HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: tarl@apache.sw.stratus.com (Tarl Neustaedter)
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: Re: Is NASA really planning to Terraform Mars?
Date: 9 Sep 92 03:41:44 GMT
Followup-To: rec.arts.sf.science
Organization: Stratus Computer, Software Engineering

Note followup, please.

In article <8274.4335@stratus.SWDC.Stratus.COM> lpb@florida.swdc.stratus.com (Len Bucuvalas) writes:
>I read somewhere over this weekend that the first step they
>would take to terraforming an allegedly lifeless planet is to
>explode one or more thermonuclear warheads in the
>atmosphere...the thought being that this would generate CO2.

Unlikely. You should start writing down where you read these types of things,
for attribution. In any case, the techniques vary depending on the world.
In the case of Venus, for example, the first problem is getting rid of 70+ Atm
of CO2 and H2SO4, not producing additional CO2 (not to question what it would
be produced out of!).

In the case of Mars, you need roughly 1 Atm of assorted gasses. The
current atmosphere is pretty insignificant, the main probable source
for additional gasses being in the polar ice-caps - I saw one proposal
for dusting the caps with carbon powder to decrease the albedo. The
icecaps by themselves are unlikely to produce 760mm Hg, let along
sufficient greenhouse gasses to warm the entire planet to our comfort.

Additional atmosphere may be locked in the rocks and sand but simple
explosions aren't likely to free it. Probably significantly easier to
divert a few comets and add atmosphere than try to free up carbonates
from solid rocks.

You might read "Martian Rainbow" by Robert Forward for a description of
one possible way to terraform part of Mars. Lousy story, but accurate
technical descriptions.
	Tarl
-- 
         Tarl Neustaedter	tarl@sw.stratus.com
         Marlboro, Mass.	Stratus Computer
Disclaimer: My employer is not responsible for my opinions.
Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: brougham@fraser.sfu.ca (Chris Brougham)
Subject: Is there still a controversey over the Big Bang?
Organization: Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C., Canada
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1992 08:47:00 GMT

Hi,

I apologize for bringing this up but I've been completely out
of my amateur astronomy hobby for a year or so and ... well
it's like I've been in a cave.

Is the plasma model of the universe still a viable theory? I
recall reading (I can't rmember when) that some new evidence
was discovered that gave a little boost to the Big Bang model.
Was this from COBE?

Since I'm sure everyone knows everything there is to know about
the latest cosomological research, please e-mail me so we don't
bore the more learned folk!

Thanks ever so much.


Chris

Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: swood@vela.acs.oakland.edu (Scott Wood - EVENSONG)
Subject: FAQ?  need current planets.star for starchart
Organization: Oakland University, Rochester MI.
Date: Sun, 13 Sep 1992 23:44:26 GMT

I just recently semi-successfully compiled a version of Starchart on our
X11 systems.  I notice that though it functions fine, it looks for a
bunch of files, among which is planets.star.  I presume that as these
things are not stationary objects in space, they update this file from
time to time.  So I need to know where to find a current version.

Also, it looks for a lot of other files that I presume are other
asteroid, etc. files which are not included in yale.star.  Seeing
as how it is looking for them in the lib/ast directory(s) I wonder
how I can set thoseup so as the program can find them (I have found
a few places that seem to have this type of file)

thanks

swood
-- 
+========================+    -------_________     +=========================+
| WANTED - DEAD OR ALIVE |    o\ o \     ____|o    |  If you see this lure,  |
|  Creek Chub "Plunker"  |      \___\_-o-    viv   | PLEASE send me email!!! |
+========================+            viv          +=========================+
Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: brougham@fraser.sfu.ca (Chris Brougham)
Subject: SETI Information requested
Organization: Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C., Canada
Date: Sun, 6 Sep 1992 22:54:20 GMT


Hi,

Can someone direct me to an ftp site (or provide me with information
here) on the SETI program that begins this month. I'm especially
interested in the computer algorithms that will be used to filter
natural radio noise from artificial signals.


Thanks

Xref: sparky sci.astro:9628 sci.physics:14534
From: njzy@vax5.cit.cornell.edu (T. Joseph Lazio, Cornell University)
Newsgroups: sci.astro,sci.physics
Subject: Re: PhD Programs in Astronomy
Date: 12 Sep 92 13:20:18 EDT
Distribution: sci
Organization: Cornell University

In article <1992Sep11.172926.14762@samba.oit.unc.edu>,
Eric.Aitala@bbs.oit.unc.edu (Eric Aitala) writes: 
> Hello,
> 	I'm looking for information concerning PhD programs in astronomy
> or astrophysics for the fall of 1993.

 Your best bet is to find the American Institute of Physics' book
 "Graduate Programs in Physics" (or something like that).  It is 
 a massive book which lists most (if not all) graduate degree programs
 in physics, astronomy, and some related fields for North 
 American universities.  Check with your physics/astronomy department
 office; they should either have the book or be able to get it for 
 you.

-- 
 T. Joseph Lazio                | Why relativity? and Why  
 514 Space Sciences             | turbulence?  I really believe   
 Ithaca, NY  14853-6801         | [God] will have an answer for the
 (607) 255-6420                 | first [question].
 lazio@astrosun.tn.cornell.edu  |   -- W. Heisenberg, on his death bed
ICBM:                           |
 42 deg. 20' 08" N              |              STOP RAPE
 76 deg. 28' 48" W              |
Newsgroups: sci.astro,sci.space,sci.geo.geology
From: cain@geomag.gly.fsu.edu (Joe Cain)
Subject: Re: plantary formation
Followup-To: sci.geo.geology
Organization: Florida State University Geology Dept.
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 92 23:13:44 GMT

In article <195ds5INNij7@bigboote.WPI.EDU> rouleau@wpi.WPI.EDU (Marc Allan Rouleau) writes:
>
>	I am working on a project here at WPI to examine theories on the
>origin of the solar system.  Can anyone suggest some good books, articles,
>etc.

Wow, there is a LOT of reading you might do. I would start with some
good texts and send a portion of the primary reading list for my
introductory class in planetary geology:

Abell, G. O., D. Morrison, and S. C. Wolff, Exploration of the
      Universe, Saunders College Publ., 1991.
Beatty, J. K. and A. Chaikin, The New Solar System, Sky & Cambridge
      Publ., QB501 .N47 1990.
Carr, M. H., R. S. Saunders, R. G. Strom, and D. E. Wilhelms, The
      geology of the Terrestrial Planets, NASA SP-469, QB 601 .T47
      1984.
Hamblin, W. K., and E. H. Christiansen, Exploring the Planets,
      Macmillan, 1990.
Hartmann, W. K., Moons and Planets, 3rd edition, Wadsworth, 1993.


Joseph Cain		cain@geomag.gly.fsu.edu
cain@fsu.bitnet		scri::cain
Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: mehr@oskar.uchicago.edu (David Mehringer)
Subject: Re: Almost full moon - Who cares?
Organization: Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1992 20:55:42 GMT

In article <1992Sep10.215721.10737@linus.mitre.org> chaloux@mandolin.mitre.org (Dave Chaloux) writes:
>I suspect like many of you, I go through monthly cycles. As full moon
>approaches I grow more and more restless, desperate, etc. I woke up
>just before 4:00 a.m. this morning (9/10/92) and decided I just had to
>observe something. 

As long as you don't start growing hair and fangs, you're OK. :)
--
Dave Mehringer              | 
dmehring@smaug.aoc.nrao.edu |  "Resistance is futile." 
National Radio Astronomy    |     --Borg pickup line
Observatory, Socorro, NM    |
Xref: sparky sci.astro:9496 sci.geo.meteorology:3015
From: hechtel@meteor.wisc.edu (Leslie Hechtel)
Newsgroups: sci.astro,sci.geo.meteorology
Subject: Re: AURORA WATCH: Middle Latitude Auroral Activity Watch
Date: 5 Sep 92 18:33:19 GMT
Organization: University of Wisconsin, Meteorology and Space Science

In article <1992Sep4.001050.28263@meteor.wisc.edu>
 stvjas@meteor.wisc.edu (Stephen Jascourt) writes:
>In article <1992Sep3.061445.8821@ccu.umanitoba.ca>
> youngs@ccu.umanitoba.ca (Scott D. Young) writes:
>>
>>   I would say "MODERATE" auroral visibility is an understatement!  Right now
>>   (about 6h UT) I am under the biggest auroral storm I have ever seen.  (Here
>>   in Winnipeg, we get to see a *lot* of them.)  The aurora is pulsating and
>>   rirpling so fast it's almost hard to follow it around the sky.  Intensely
>>   bright (easily casting shadows), with mostly green and a brilliant cyan
>>   (which I have not seen before).  Is anyone else getting this stuff farther
>>   down south?  It goes to my south horizon; I'm curious to see how far that
>>   it can be seen.
>
>It was noted in the weather observations as far south as Laramie, Wyoming, 
>though no other stations around that part of the country noted it, the next
>furthest south station reporting aurora being Alexandria, Minnesota.
>(Laramie reported it only on one hourly observation, Alexandria reported the
>aurora for many hours). I hope we get to see it in Madison tonight! (We will
>have clear skies.)

Well, my husband lives in South Hadley MA (just north of Springfield,
about 42deg15min N) and he saw the aurora last night at about 8pm
his time.  He said it was in the north sky, between 45 and 60 degrees
up from horizontal.  He said it looked like a green single-engine
contrail at first, then gradually spread out "like something Disney
would draw".  I think it came and went for at least 30 minutes before
he called to tell me about it, and thank me for the tip-off.

I checked Madison's northern sky several times last night, but never
saw it here :(

Leslie

-- 
Leslie M. Hechtel
Dept. of Meteorology
1225 W. Dayton St.
Madison  WI  53706            Internet:hechtel@meteor.wisc.edu
From: johno@sdd.hp.com (John Ongtooguk)
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: Re: Telescope mount question: SP?
Date: 8 Sep 92 21:28:56 GMT
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, San Diego Division
NNTP-Posting-Host: hpsdlg10.sdd.hp.com

In article <1992Sep8.140624.20405@cbfsb.cb.att.com>, mrtim@cbnewsg.cb.att.com (t.ihde) writes:
|> 
|> So, thinking that the 8" SCT optical tubes are pretty much alike, I'm
|> wondering what people think of the Super Polaris mount with respect
|> to a comparable fork (say the Mead 2080 or Celestron Classic) or other
|> GEMs.  How stable is it, compared with other options?

   I had a chance to peek thru three scopes at a 'party' put on by
   Celestron at a local dealer; a 6in f5 Newtonian which was mounted
   low and appeared to be pretty stable, a 4in achromatic refractor
   which was mounted high and was pretty wobbly, even though we were
   on our knees for some observing, and an 8in SCT which which was also
   mounted high and also pretty wobbly. A couple of other fork mounted
   SCT's also mounted high seemed to be a little more stable. I have 
   an 8in Dobsonian which as far as mounts go seems to be very stable. 
   The Super Polaris mount would be better with stiffer legs and used
   at a lower height with heavier scopes, but for the price I would want
   to try it out first. 

   John Ongtooguk (johno@sdd.hp.com)
Xref: sparky sci.astro:9656 sci.space:12888
From: pcl@oxford.ac.uk (Paul Leyland)
Newsgroups: sci.astro,sci.space
Subject: Re: Clinton and Space Funding
Date: 14 Sep 92 08:53:25 GMT
Organization: Oxford University Computing Service, 13 Banbury Rd, Oxford, OX2
	6NN
In-reply-to: pssres12@ucs.usl.edu's message of 12 Sep 92 19:47:02 GMT

In article <1992Sep12.194702.23291@usl.edu> pssres12@ucs.usl.edu (Vignes Gerard M) writes:

	   Bill Clinton claims he will cut taxes,
	   balance the budget, and increase social spending.

...

	   If you've not yet done so,
	   please register to vote.
	   There's still time.

Can you tell me how to register to vote in the US election please?

	   When election day comes,
	   please get out and vote.
	   It's your right AND your duty.

I'd love to 8-)

	   Don't stay home that day just because you're disgusted,
	   and let a pitifully small percentage of people
	   determine our nation's future.

*Your* nation's future.

Paul

P.S.  sci.astro goes to a lot of non-US people you know.

P.P.S. Please don't take this as anything other than tongue-in-cheek.
I just posted an article about proposed UK legislation which impinges
on the light pollution problem.
--
Paul Leyland <pcl@oxford.ac.uk>          | Hanging on in quiet desperation is
Oxford University Computing Service      |     the English way.
13 Banbury Road, Oxford, OX2 6NN, UK     | The time is come, the song is over.
Tel: +44-865-273200  Fax: +44-865-273275 | Thought I'd something more to say.
From: murphyg@Software.Mitel.COM (Gary Murphy)
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: Re: Amateur Radio Astronomy Book
Date: 11 Sep 92 12:06:02 GMT
Organization: Applications Software II, MITEL Corporation, Kanata, Ontario,
	Canada
In-reply-to: seymour@ast.saic.com's message of 10 Sep 92 22:09:10 GMT

In article <1992Sep10.220910.17145@ast.saic.com> seymour@ast.saic.com (Ken Seymour) writes:
   Some time ago, I remember reading a Sky and Telescope review of a book
   on Amateur Radio Astronomy.  I have looked back through the indeces of
   the last 2 or 3 years and I can't find it.  Does anyone know the issue
   of Sky and Telescope or the name of such a book?

I have some articles on building a radio observatory from the Nov 88
issue of S&T; there are some other articles in the same series in the
months surrounding November, and a few from 1979 (I don't have my notes
with me, but if these articles are of interest, I suppose I can dig out
the precise issues).  The bad news is these plans are woefully obsolete.

I wrote to Dr. Sorenson, the author of the S&T articles, to ask about
more modern approaches.  He wrote back to say he didn't have anything
specific he could recommend, but he felt a decent radio observatory
could be easily constructed from a TV satellite receiver and a VCR.

On the subject of books, one reference often overlooked is John Potter
Shield's "Amateur Radio Astronomer's Handbook" (Crown 1986).  Other
books will give you better historical data and a wider variety of ideas,
whereas Shields' book is devoted only to plans and instructions.

Another very interesting book for the new amateur is Bernard Lovell's
"Out of the Zenith" (two volumes).  These books tell the story of the
Jodrell Bank Observatory, from the early radiometer experiments through
the VLBI quest for quasar diameters.

--
Gary Lawrence Murphy - Gary.Murphy@software.mitel.COM - (613) 592-2122 x3709
        "But what if there _were_ such things as past lives?"
    "Close your eyes.  Notice how dark it becomes. Open your eyes.
                          What do you see?"
Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: dieter@informatik.rwth-aachen.de (Dieter Kreuer)
Subject: Re: FTP Sites  Databases: Where???
Organization: Informatik IV - RWTH Aachen
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 92 07:50:45 GMT

In article <65629@cup.portal.com> Cynedd@cup.portal.com (Kenneth W Durham)
writes:
>
>Ds anyone know where I can find databases of Extra-Galactic
>Objects (galaxies, planetary nebulae, etc.), including databases of
>Stars?
>I have the ; but would like more than is listed.
>         ^ Yale BSC.
>Thanks in advance,
> 

Send a request to request@nssdca.gsfc.nasa.gov. They have all kinds of data
which they will put for you in a special ftp directory temporarily. I have
got the new PPM catalogue from them (40 MB of 350,000 stars down to 10m5).
They also have the more famous SAO (which has about the same number of stars,
but the PPM is more exact and has 2000.0 coordinates; the PPM also contains the
SAO numbers). You can also get a stripped down version of the SAO (just the
postions and brightness, but not very accurately; suffices to draw maps,
though;
about 1.4 Megabytes) on various machines (namely: funic.funet.fi; they probably
have it on ames.arc.nasa.gov, too). On these same machines you should also be
able to find the SAC5.2 data collection of galaxies and other deep sky objects.
Hope this helps. If you need more details, ask.

Regards, Dieter.

-----------------------                     -----------------------------------
     Dieter Kreuer        ##     ========  / dieter@informatik.rwth-aachen.de
Lehrstuhl Informatik IV   __   /// /#     /  dieter%informatik.rwth-
     RWTH Aachen          ##  /// # #    /             aachen.de@uunet.uu.net
     Ahornstr. 55         ## /// #####  /uunet!informatik.rwth-aachen.de!dieter
W-5100 Aachen, Germany    ====      #  / PHONE:  +49 241 80 21413
Newsgroups: sci.astro,rec.radio.amateur.misc,rec.radio.shortwave
From: oler@rho.uleth.ca (Cary Oler)
Subject: Daily Solar Geophysical Data Broadcast for 13 September
Organization: University of Lethbridge
Date: 14 Sep 92 18:56:57 GMT

!!BEGIN!! (1.0) S.T.D. Solar Geophysical Data Broadcast for DAY 257, 09/13/92
10.7 FLUX=127.3  90-AVG=124        SSN=109      BKI=1112 1022  BAI=004
BGND-XRAY=B2.9     FLU1=4.5E+05  FLU10=1.3E+04  PKI=2222 2233  PAI=008
  BOU-DEV=009,006,008,010,008,004,012,011   DEV-AVG=008 NT     SWF=00:000
 XRAY-MAX= C2.6   @ 0308UT    XRAY-MIN= B2.3   @ 0150UT   XRAY-AVG= B4.6
NEUTN-MAX= +002%  @ 2115UT   NEUTN-MIN= -003%  @ 1635UT  NEUTN-AVG= -0.0%
  PCA-MAX= +0.1DB @ 2355UT     PCA-MIN= -0.1DB @ 2155UT    PCA-AVG= +0.0DB
BOUTF-MAX=55441NT @ 1339UT   BOUTF-MIN=55406NT @ 1717UT  BOUTF-AVG=55429NT
GOES7-MAX=P:+150NT@ 2003UT   GOES7-MIN=N:+004NT@ 0411UT  G7-AVG=+101,+037,+013
GOES6-MAX=P:+157NT@ 2001UT   GOES6-MIN=E:-010NT@ 0736UT  G6-AVG=+113,-002,+033
 FLUXFCST=STD:130,130,127;SESC:125,125,120 BAI/PAI-FCST=005,005,010/015,010,010
    KFCST=2223 4211 1233 4111  27DAY-AP=005,006   27DAY-KP=1111 1221 2112 2222
 WARNINGS=*SWF
   ALERTS=
!!END-DATA!!
From: troach@netcom.com (Tom Roach)
Subject: Very Bright light in Western sky!!
Date: Wed, 16 Sep 92 03:46:09 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 

I went outside about 8:30 PM local (0330 UTC) and saw the most incredible
sight. I though it was the moon illuminating a huge patch of clouds.
In fact there isn't a cloud in the sky. I can even see the Milky Way.
But there was this gigantic patch of very bright sky like nothing I
have ever seen. It faded fairly rapidly but was still present when 
I rushed down to my computer to post this.

I see from Cary Oler's post that there was a MAJOR flare, so 
assume that this caused the huge patch of VERY bright light. I
have seen Northern lights and they were NOTHING in comparison to 
this.

Posting from South San Jose (Almaden Valley).  Anybody else see this 
display?  Please post to me or the net.

Tom Roach

Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: gliba@scivax.stsci.edu
Subject: Saturn's NEB Disturbance
Organization: Space Telescope Science Institute
Distribution: na
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1992 01:46:40 GMT


Saturn's NEB Disturbance

   I mention a few weeks ago of the great detail I saw in the NTB on
Saturn.  Well, I really meant the NEB, which is still showing fine
detail. Last friday and saturday night, Sept. 11th and 12th respectively,
I got some good looks during moments of good seeing, which were few on
friday night, but more frequent on saturday night. Using a 8 inch f11
(parabolized) newtonian planetary scope, I saw several knots and darken-
ings in the NEB, which was a brownish color. I didn't notice the doubl-  
ing I saw several weeks ago.  This detail could be seen with a medium
power (176x), but it was best seen during good seeing at 264x.



G.W. Gliba 
             "The Democrates care more about snakes and owls than people"
                                                          Dan Quayle
From: bs@tekig7.PEN.TEK.COM (Robert L Swarts)
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: AeroEktar uses
Date: 9 Sep 92 16:05:53 GMT
Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton,  OR.

I purchased one of the surplus AeroEktars touted in this group last week. It
arrived yesterday. What a beautiful piece of glass!

Now, does anyone know where I can get an instruction manual and/or any 
printed material relating to its astronomical (astrograph, wide-field
'scope, etc.) uses?

  Bob Swarts
Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: phacb@cc.flinders.edu.au (<A.C.Beresford>)
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: Jost JaHn Comet posting?
Date: 12 Sep 92 10:21:08 GMT
Organization: Flinders University
Originator: phacb@pippin.cc.flinders.edu.au

It has come to the attention of myself,
and Lenny Abbey , that the info posts of Jost Jahn about
comets are not being received at US sites like Lenny's
and my site here in australia. Please send a short e-mail
if you are getting this info, and the name of your site.
I know the posting gets to at least one site in Canada
Thanks in Advance, Tony Beresford
phacb@cc.flinders.edu.au
Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: rbunge@access.digex.com (Robert Bunge)
Subject: Re: Reticle question??????
Organization: Express Access Online Communications Service, Greenbelt, Maryland USA
Date: Wed, 16 Sep 1992 02:26:24 GMT

In article <1992Sep15.170708.3705@sfu.ca> palmer@sfu.ca (Leigh Palmer) writes:
OOB>In article <1992Sep14.160703.1669@gnv.ifas.ufl.edu> ja@gnv.ifas.ufl.edu writes:
>>Hello Netters,
>> 
>>I'm trying to build a finder scope from half a pair of binocs and
>>I need some advice.  I want to put cross hairs in and don't know
>>where to put them.  I tried just attaching them across the bottom
>>of the ocular mounting but they were not visible.  I know that with
>>microscopes the reticle scales are focuable. Is this just a matter
>>of trial and error getting this thing placed for my specific binocs?
>
>Since it appears you have already disassembled the monocular you can probably
>make the situation no worse, so try the following experiment:

I'd just like to point out that you might try the monocular _without_
a crosshair.  It turns out that the human eye/brain is pretty good at
finding the center of a circle.  This is especially true if you can
see the entire field of view.  Try it, you might find that it works.
I've made my own finders for years, almost always with commercial,
off the shelf eyepieces.  I've noticed that when people borrow my
telescope to look at something, they normally comment about the lack of
a crosshair in the finder, but then procede to find what they are looking
for.  Often, afterwards, they comment that the crosshairs aren't really
needed anyway.

Bob Bunge
rbunge@access.digex.com
From: davecole@cie.uoregon.edu.uoregon.edu (Dave Cole)
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: Re: Telescope mount question: SP?
Date: 8 Sep 92 16:42:08 GMT
Article-I.D.: nntp.1992Sep8.164208.17096
Organization: University of Oregon Network Services
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL5


  I forgot one thing...

  If you do get the SP mount will you let me know how you like it?

--
Name:     David C. Cole
E-MAIL:   Internet: davecole@uoregon.cie.edu
          GEnie:    ASTRONOMY

==Astrophotography Forever==
Newsgroups: sci.astro