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  • 3 months later...
Posted (edited)
38 minutes ago, Strider said:

Between the comet and Jupiter and Saturn and the full moon it has been a fun couple of weeks watching the night sky.

FullSizeR1.thumb.jpg.225c9f13990cc18589df47853ddd73a8.jpg

Cool pic

 

true story

Back when Hale Bop was seen in the sky I was at a gathering of my usual friends when I started a convo about the comet. I said " I can't believe how close it looks"  My friend, who is at the time 15 years older than I said,  "It's no wonder, it's right in our atmosphere"  I said "Are you crazy"  He said "what? you don't believe your eyes?"  and we got into a whole discussion about the tail and why it looks the way it does and when I told him that the solar wind pushes the tail away from the sun he said "I was stupid" and that there is no wind in space". At that point I said "Have it your way buddy".  Not to be outdone by his stupidity my other buddy wanted to argue that Ursa Major and Minor were actually pronounced Inertia major and minor. This was back in 1995. Thank God I listened in class.

Edited by hummingbird69
  • 1 month later...
  • 1 month later...
  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

I studied Astronomy in 1996 at Monroe Community College and that was the year a comet ran named after the amatuer Japanese astronomer that first reported it.  We could see it with binoculars very well.  That said, our teacher said and was correct in saying Rochester NY is one of the worst places to study astronomy.  Cloudy far too often.  So I envy those of you that live in far more suitable places.  Venus and Mars are very often seen by the naked eye and are called "morning stars".  Many do not realize that they are looking at these planets and not a star.  You never know what you might see if you have the patience to gaze.  The one thing that I learned that was the most useful was time and distance.  You know you are looking back in time when you gaze at the stars.   It takes years for the light to reach us.  Astronomical units are used to measure distance in space.  One astronomical unit equals the distance from the Earth to the Sun.  Which you know is approx 93 million miles.  They say it would take you 40 years to reach the nearest star beyond our Sun if you could travel at half the speed of light.  That really puts things in perspective and that is why until recently I never believed that aliens have been here.  The 2004 Tic Tac object that was called the "Nimitz encounter" and the 1997 Phoenix Lights have changed my mind.   I have considered two possible reasons.  Perhaps they are unmanned craft?  Like the ones we have sent out?  Or, perhaps they have much longer life spans than us?  And obviously have more advanced technology to travel these incredible distances from who knows where?

Posted
On 11/11/2020 at 8:24 PM, LedZeppfan1977 said:

I studied Astronomy in 1996 at Monroe Community College and that was the year a comet ran named after the amatuer Japanese astronomer that first reported it.  We could see it with binoculars very well.  That said, our teacher said and was correct in saying Rochester NY is one of the worst places to study astronomy.  Cloudy far too often.  So I envy those of you that live in far more suitable places.  Venus and Mars are very often seen by the naked eye and are called "morning stars".  Many do not realize that they are looking at these planets and not a star.  You never know what you might see if you have the patience to gaze.  The one thing that I learned that was the most useful was time and distance.  You know you are looking back in time when you gaze at the stars.   It takes years for the light to reach us.  Astronomical units are used to measure distance in space.  One astronomical unit equals the distance from the Earth to the Sun.  Which you know is approx 93 million miles.  They say it would take you 40 years to reach the nearest star beyond our Sun if you could travel at half the speed of light.  That really puts things in perspective and that is why until recently I never believed that aliens have been here.  The 2004 Tic Tac object that was called the "Nimitz encounter" and the 1997 Phoenix Lights have changed my mind.   I have considered two possible reasons.  Perhaps they are unmanned craft?  Like the ones we have sent out?  Or, perhaps they have much longer life spans than us?  And obviously have more advanced technology to travel these incredible distances from who knows where?

Man, I  tried to tell you that years ago. So pleased you've come around,

Posted

My son pointed out the saucepan late last night to my delight as we were fare welling guests from a little party we had. Was quite a nice moment as he knows I have been waiting for it to reappear in the summer sky and that's the first time I've seen it this season. Still waiting for the two gateway looking crosses to appear on the southern horizon, but won't be long now. God I love gazing up at the night sky. I could live to a thousand years old and never tire of that little pleasure.

Posted
3 hours ago, rm2551 said:

My son pointed out the saucepan late last night to my delight as we were fare welling guests from a little party we had. Was quite a nice moment as he knows I have been waiting for it to reappear in the summer sky and that's the first time I've seen it this season. Still waiting for the two gateway looking crosses to appear on the southern horizon, but won't be long now. God I love gazing up at the night sky. I could live to a thousand years old and never tire of that little pleasure.

Same 🙂

Posted
On 11/14/2020 at 3:52 AM, slave to zep said:

Man, I  tried to tell you that years ago. So pleased you've come around,

Hi Slave.  How are you?  I hope your well.  Long time since we have talked.  

Posted
On 11/15/2020 at 9:17 PM, LedZeppfan1977 said:

Hi Slave.  How are you?  I hope your well.  Long time since we have talked.  

I'm going well, thank you. No covid out here. 

You?

Posted
8 hours ago, slave to zep said:

I'm going well, thank you. No covid out here. 

You?

I wish I was in Australia.  Here its a mess but not really where I am.  I just went to a local casino to play sports and the toll booths are all closed.  Every facet of life is effected by this.  And a stinking lame duck president that will not admit defeat and is killing the stimulus deal and the vaccine being speeded up. 

Posted

The Universe is a magical and beautiful creation, how lovely it is to look out into the cosmos at night on beautiful clear night in the peace and tranquility, with a loved one.

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

https://blogs.nasa.gov/Watch_the_Skies/2020/12/09/the-geminids-best-meteor-shower-of-the-year/?fbclid=IwAR1jNVJlYfEry7jkVDHWwb8rEtkHDLXdd_y52ZUUwOfPKqGv-Lnn8eJSP3w

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