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"Eclipse"
The most ancient report of a solar eclipse is in Chinese records. The eclipse came without warning, according to legend, because the royal astronomers, Hsi and Ho, were too drunk to make the necessary computations. They were executed - the only astronomers known to have been killed for dereliction of duty.
David
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quote:
Originally posted by Batu Kawa
the only astronomers known to have been killed for dereliction of duty.
Whereas astrologers have often met a sticky end! (A case of shooting the messenger? ...except it was more frequently a sword!)
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Our galaxy is a seriously big place.
If you are lucky enough to live in a place with clear air
and dark nights, you can see about 3000 stars with your
naked eye. And it looks like an awful lot!
But get this - our whole galaxy is estimated to contain
ten trillion stars - that is 3.3 BILLION times more than
we can see with our eyes.
No wonder they say that in space, nobody can hear you
scream!
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In 1962, an Atlas-Agena rocket that was carrying the Mariner I
satellite into space was launched from Cape Canaveral.
Unfortunately, the rocket went off course and ground controllers
had to push the self-destruct button. The whole thing exploded.
Investigators found that someone had left a minus sign out of
the computer program. Cost to U.S. taxpayers: $18.5 million.
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Great stories to read -I understand experts now say there are signs of water on the Moon however miniscule the drops are.
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It sounds like a lot of water from what they are saying.
Martin ~
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One fact, regarding the vastness of space has always stuck in my mind. It has been estimated that there are more GALAXIES in outer space than people who have populated the earth.
Jim
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Whilst in this mind blowing senario, if we were able to travel to the VERY edge of outer space - what`s on the other side?
Jim
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Is there an edge to Outer Space? -it is indeed a mind -boggling topic.
Is Nasa due to have another look at the shady side of the Moon for ice and water following on from the discovery of water droplets!
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quote:
Originally posted by Spitfire
One fact, regarding the vastness of space has always stuck in my mind. It has been estimated that there are more GALAXIES in outer space than people who have populated the earth.
Quite correct, and on a similar subject:
There are more stars in space than there are grains of sand on the Earth.
