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Top Document: [sci.astro,sci.astro.seti] Resources (Frequently Asked Previous Document: Introduction Next Document: A.01 What are the sci.astro* newsgroups about? See reader questions & answers on this topic! - Help others by sharing your knowledge
Walter I. Nissen Jr. CDP <dk058@cleveland.freenet.edu>,
Steven Willner <swillner@cfa.harvard.edu>
There are eight groups in the *sci.astro* hierarchy:
*sci.astro*
Astronomy discussions and information
*sci.astro.amateur*
Amateur astronomy equipment, techniques, info, etc.
*sci.astro.seti*
The Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence (SETI)
*sci.astro.fits*
Issues related to the Flexible Image Transport System
*sci.astro.hubble*
Processing Hubble Space Telescope data. (Moderated)
*sci.astro.planetarium*
Discussion of planetariums
*sci.astro.research*
Forum in astronomy/astrophysics research. (Moderated)
*sci.astro.satellites.visual-observe*
Visual observing of artificial satellites
Each group except *sci.astro* has a charter that defines appropriate
postings. You can get the full charters via _anonymous ftp_,
<URL:ftp://ftp.uu.net/usenet/news.announce.newgroups/sci/>.
By default, everything that is related to astronomy/astrophysics and is
NOT covered by one of the other *sci.astro.** groups is acceptable for
posting in *sci.astro*. If something belongs in one of those groups, then
it does NOT belong in *sci.astro* and should NOT be (cross)posted there.
In particular, this includes all amateur observations, hardware, software,
and trade (see *sci.astro.amateur*).
The *sci.astro* hierarchy is NOT the appropriate forum for metaphysical
discussions. There are other groups for that (e.g.
*alt.paranet.metaphysics*). Neither is it the right group to discuss
astrology (*alt.astrology* is), which has nothing to do with astronomy, or
topics such as creationism (*talk.origins* for that). This is a science
group, not one for religion, sociology, or philosophy (even of science).
In addition, a number of topics related to astrophysics are better suited
for other groups. For instance, elementary particle physics should be
discussed in *sci.physics.particle* (but discussions of astronomical
consequences are welcome in astro groups). Likewise for photons and the
speed of light (*sci.physics*). Finally, all space related issues (e.g.
spacecraft and faster than light/time travel) have a home in the
*sci.space.** hierarchy (but astronomical results from space missions are
welcome).
User Contributions:Comment about this article, ask questions, or add new information about this topic:Top Document: [sci.astro,sci.astro.seti] Resources (Frequently Asked Previous Document: Introduction Next Document: A.01 What are the sci.astro* newsgroups about? Part0 - Part1 - Part2 - Part3 - Part4 - Part5 - Part6 - Part7 - Part8 - Single Page [ Usenet FAQs | Web FAQs | Documents | RFC Index ] Send corrections/additions to the FAQ Maintainer: T. Joseph W. Lazio <jlazio@patriot.net>
Last Update March 27 2014 @ 02:11 PM
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with stars, then every direction you looked would eventually end on
the surface of a star, and the whole sky would be as bright as the
surface of the Sun.
Why would anyone assume this? Certainly, we have directions where we look that are dark because something that does not emit light (is not a star) is between us and the light. A close example is in our own solar system. When we look at the Sun (a star) during a solar eclipse the Moon blocks the light. When we look at the inner planets of our solar system (Mercury and Venus) as they pass between us and the Sun, do we not get the same effect, i.e. in the direction of the planet we see no light from the Sun? Those planets simply look like dark spots on the Sun.
Olbers' paradox seems to assume that only stars exist in the universe, but what about the planets? Aren't there more planets than stars, thus more obstructions to light than sources of light?
What may be more interesting is why can we see certain stars seemingly continuously. Are there no planets or other obstructions between them and us? Or is the twinkle in stars just caused by the movement of obstructions across the path of light between the stars and us? I was always told the twinkle defines a star while the steady light reflected by our planets defines a planet. Is that because the planets of our solar system don't have the obstructions between Earth and them to cause a twinkle effect?
9-14-2024 KP