July 2005 - Utah-Astronomy - mailman.xmission.com

Relativity Question
by Lambert, Aaron 06 Jul '05

06 Jul '05

I have a few questions on the speed of light and how that relates to the age of the universe. I will preface these remarks with the disclaimer that while I have read a bit on relativity from time to time in an attempt to understand it, I unfortunately have found that most of it seems to be beyond my ability to grasp. I was pondering recently while reading an article about the Big Bang and the age of the universe. It was probably one of numerous recent articles about Einstein's life. From my understanding, Einstein determined that because the speed of light is constant, there must be variability in time to make up for this. This explains why time moves slower or faster for two relative observers. So here is the meat of my question. I read in books and magazine articles about the age of the universe. Since time is relative, what does it mean that the universe is so many billions of years old? Don't we need to know billions of years in relation to something? Does that just mean that given the current size of the universe (as we have measured it) is so many light-years across? Or does our age-estimate have more to do with the rate of expansion extrapolated over time? If two beams of light are leaving the Big Bang at the same time traveling in opposite directions, what is their time relative to each other? If they travel for one year in their time are they two light years apart? Or is it less because if they are two light years apart, they would be traveling at two times the speed of light relative to each other? Thanks in advance for any light that can be shed on this. :) Aaron

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Observing over the next few days
by Robert Taylor 06 Jul '05

06 Jul '05

It looks we'll continue to get something resembling good weather for a little while longer. Anyone planning on taking advantage of it over the next couple nights; Wednesday and Thursday? I figure Friday is up at Wolf Creek. Bob Taylor

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] Siegfried
by Lambert, Aaron 06 Jul '05

06 Jul '05

Allow me to add my 2c as an observer to this issue. I will start out by clarifying that I personally have no issue with Siegfried. From my perspective, Siegfried made a couple attempts at a humorous response to some requests for information. There is nothing inherently wrong with this. There are several people on this list who regularly make some very humorous posts and I think most (if not all) the members on this list appreciate them. It was pointed out that the people requesting the information really wanted it for some valid reasons. Siegfried interpreted these as personal attacks. As the discussion developed, some of them probably were, but I do not believe that is important now. If Sig had just swallowed his pride, admitted that he was a little out of line (although unintentionally), and offered the requested information all would have been well. Instead, Sig inexplicably picked up all his toys and went to play elsewhere. I think it is safe to say that we are all adults here and it is likely that nobody will hold a grudge over something so silly. He is certainly welcome back on the forum, but that is his choice. I do not see how it is our place to "beg" him to come back in private emails. If he is interested he will return, otherwise he won't. If he does decide to return, I think it would be wise to make a brief statement of contrition at least to those involved the little spat to patch things up, with a vow to try to be more helpful in offering information in the future. I don't particularly care whether he does this publicly (for all to read) or via email to a select few (like I said, I hold no ill feelings). Even those involved (Rich, for example) seem to hold the same thoughts I do (no ill will, just a desire for info). This forum is a place for him to shine as the SLAS president. He should be on here offering up information on current happenings and such, so I hope he does come back. But that is his choice. Aaron > -----Original Message----- > From: Richard Tenney > Sent: Tuesday, July 05, 2005 10:20 PM > To: Utah Astronomy > Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Siegfried > > > Since I'm the big bad ogre that started the whole > thing, apologies first to the list. > > But as I stated earlier, I harbor no ill will towards > Siegfried. These days I'm just too darn busy, and too > strapped for cash, to make 2 hour round trips to SLC > if nothing of significance is planned for a meeting, > that's all. > > I did volunteer to find a speaker, off-list, but never > heard back, so I guess maybe I'm the one HE's mad > at... > > I promise to behave in the future. Pass this along > next time you see him. > > -Rich > > > --- Patrick Wiggins <paw(a)trilobyte.net> wrote: > > > I spoke with Siegfried earlier today and during the > > course of the > > conversation learned he has left this forum because > > he thinks people > > here are mad at him. > > > > I told him that while I do think that some folks > > here (including me) did > > not see the humor in his postings about meeting > > content I can't imagine > > that any would want him to leave the list > > permanently. > > > > If you agree you might want to email him off list at > > > > ziggy943(a)xmission.com and encourage him to come > > back. > > > > Patrick

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Siegfried
by Patrick Wiggins 05 Jul '05

05 Jul '05

I spoke with Siegfried earlier today and during the course of the conversation learned he has left this forum because he thinks people here are mad at him. I told him that while I do think that some folks here (including me) did not see the humor in his postings about meeting content I can't imagine that any would want him to leave the list permanently. If you agree you might want to email him off list at ziggy943(a)xmission.com and encourage him to come back. Patrick

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Tempel 1 brightness
by Patrick Wiggins 05 Jul '05

05 Jul '05

One of the panelists in the most recent Deep Impact news conference noted that the comet brightened "by a factor of 5" after the impact. He then alluded to the graphic located at: http://esamultimedia.esa.int/images/Science/Deep_Impact/NAC_Clear_Lightcurv… Could some of the science types on the list confirm or correct my guess that what all this means is that it brightened briefly by about 1.5 magnitudes? Thanks, Patrick

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] Impact animation
by Chuck Hards 05 Jul '05

05 Jul '05

Guy would probably say a "sighting burst"... ;) --- "Corr, Tom" <TCorr(a)co.linn.or.us> wrote: > In the days and hours leading up to our "visit" to > Temple 1, JPL shows three > outbursts in their video at > http://deepimpact.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/animation.html. > Any explanations? > Impacts that frequently on such a small body > surprised me. > > [Signature] ____________________________________________________ Yahoo! Sports Rekindle the Rivalries. Sign up for Fantasy Football http://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Impact animation
by Patrick Wiggins 05 Jul '05

05 Jul '05

Corr, Tom wrote: > In the days and hours leading up to our "visit" to Temple 1, JPL shows three > outbursts in their video at > http://deepimpact.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/animation.html. Any explanations? > Impacts that frequently on such a small body surprised me. Seems pretty obvious to me that the outbursts can be described as the debris kicked up by the launching of emergency escape pods the Templeians started using when they saw the impactor coming their way. :-) Next thing you know someone is going to sue NASA for damaging Tempel 1 (actually that's already happened--I'll have the story in tomorrow's News). And that's the way it is, :-) Patrick

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] Impact animation
by Canopus56 05 Jul '05

05 Jul '05

--- "Corr, Tom" <TCorr(a)co.linn.or.us> wrote: > In the days and hours leading up to our "visit" to > Temple 1, JPL shows three outbursts . . . > Any explanations? Impacts that frequently on > such a small body surprised me. I believe NASA is refering to outbursts of material from the relatively heated interior of the comet and not impacts of small objects from the intersolar medium. Recall in the close up from the pre-impact approach image there are fumeral-like cones. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/deepimpact/multimedia/070405-its-approach… Canopus56(Kurt) P.S. - Patrick, Thanks again for a fine evening at SPOC. My favorite movies - the approach - http://www.nasa.gov/mov/121530main_its_approach_x4.mov impact view from the fly-by craft - http://www.nasa.gov/mov/121520main_HRI-Movie.mov at: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/deepimpact/main/index.html __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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RE: [Utah-astronomy] Impact animation
by Corr, Tom 05 Jul '05

05 Jul '05

In the days and hours leading up to our "visit" to Temple 1, JPL shows three outbursts in their video at http://deepimpact.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/animation.html. Any explanations? Impacts that frequently on such a small body surprised me. [Signature] -----Original Message----- From: Chuck Hards [mailto:chuckhards@yahoo.com] Sent: Tuesday, July 05, 2005 12:05 PM To: Utah-Astro Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Impact animation Here is a neat animation taken with "modest" equipment: http://www.ewellobservatory.com/gallery/moon/deepimpact.cfm __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com

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Impact animation
by Chuck Hards 05 Jul '05

05 Jul '05

Here is a neat animation taken with "modest" equipment: http://www.ewellobservatory.com/gallery/moon/deepimpact.cfm __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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