Date: 16 Dec 2006 05:35:31
From: oriel36
Subject: A real astronomical gift
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Follow a local observation further and further into space using modern
imaging -
http://www.tech-writer.net/images/photos/SunsetSky1.jpg
http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/Storm_pages/humberto2001/terminator1.JPG
http://wmthemes.jessanderson.org/sht/earth_terminator_ss.jpg
Then follow the path of the Earth around the Sun by using the way the
shadow changes as the Earth orbit does not follow the course of the
Sun's maximum diameter .
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/Seasonearth.png
Next year,work towards giving humanity the gift of an accurate view of
what causes global climate and how that can be reduced further to
hemispherical weather patterns(seasons).It takes nothing away from
observing and for the first time meshes together astronomy and
climatology based on two simple motions and their relationship over the
course of an annual orbit.
The idea of a variable tilting Earth to the Sun robs people of
appreceating the gorgeous astronomical phenomena as a location sweeps
from direct solar radiation into the Earth's orbital shadow and the
change in coors that accompany this great daily event when conditions
allow.
I am well aware that within the next few weeks this forum will be
swamped with people who will have bought or received telescopes for
Christmas and think themselves astronomers by virtue of this purchase
but astronomy proper, beyond the exercise in magnification, is far more
dynamic and would represent a higher level to which observers should
aspire.The rewards are far more graceful,far more spectacular and far
more satisfying than one would wish and they will attract humanity back
to astronomy where they will see that the vast size of our parent star
and its output and the enormous scale of orbital geometries translate
often into the softer glow of wonderful dusks and dawns,the vibrant
daily and annual cycles of life which follow the astronomical cycles
going on behind it all.
Do more next year that provide static images,restore what is almost
lost for there is no greater gift is there that the ability to give
one.
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