HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: durand@dao.nrc.ca (Daniel Durand,P=xxxx,R=xxx)
Subject: comment field
Keywords: fits parsind, char strings, comment
Reply-To: durand@dao.nrc.ca
Organization: DAO/CADC .
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 92 21:14:26 GMT

We are trying to desing special fits ingesters for moving headers content into a 
database system when we encounter the following case:

CARD    = 'data 2.5' '  / 10 '

This card (I just type in the worst case we could imagine) has no comment but how to detect
that. It seams that each case we have with a single quote following a slash will create an
ambigous situation. Is there any solution to this?. 

We have checked within the standard FITS document and haven't found anything which will 
remove this ambiguity.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Daniel Durand					P:604-363-0052                 Canadian Astronomy Data Center			durand@dao.nrc.ca             Dominion Astrophysical Observatory		                              
5071 W. Saanich Rd.				FAX:604-363-0045           Victoria, B.C.					Telex - 049-7295              CANADA V8X 4M6                                                                
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Newsgroups: sci.astro.fits
From: thompson@stars.gsfc.nasa.gov (William Thompson, code 682.1, x2040)
Subject: Re: comment field
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.4-b1  
Keywords: fits parsind, char strings, comment
Organization: NASA/GSFC-Laboratory for Astronomy and Solar Physics
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1992 23:28:00 GMT

In article <1992Nov16.211426.8939@sol.UVic.CA>, durand@dao.nrc.ca writes...
>We are trying to desing special fits ingesters for moving headers content into a 
>database system when we encounter the following case:
> 
>CARD    = 'data 2.5' '  / 10 '
> 
>This card (I just type in the worst case we could imagine) has no comment but how to detect
>that. It seams that each case we have with a single quote following a slash will create an
>ambigous situation. Is there any solution to this?. 
> 
>We have checked within the standard FITS document and haven't found anything which will 
>remove this ambiguity.

Is this a recommended FITS entry?  I would have thought that you wanted either:

CARD    = 'data 2.5''  / 10 '

or

CARD    = 'data 2.5'' ''  / 10 '

Quote characters inside character strings are supposed to be doubled to signal
that the string doesn't end there--that should remove the ambiguity.

Bill Thompson
Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: schlegel@cwis.unomaha.edu (Mark Schlegel)
Subject: Galilean Electrodynamics?
Organization: University of Nebraska at Omaha
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 21:04:19 GMT

The past few months in Sky and Telescope magazine I have been seeing this
ad for a bimonthly publication called "Galilean Electrodynamics" written
by a group of professors. What is the story on this group?  The editorial
board is made of up of scientists and engineers (five are listed in the ad)
Edit. Board:       
        Thomas Barnes, U of Texas, Prof. Emeritus
        Howard Hayden, Univ. of Connecticut, Prof. of Physics
        P. Parshin, Academy of Civil Aviation, St. Peterburg, Russia
        Cynthia Whitney, Tufts Univ.
Editor:
        Petr Beckmann, Prof. Emeritus of Electrical Eng., Univ. of Colorado/
                                                                Boulder
                                                                
Does anyone know about whether the papers published by this group have any
validity in the general physics world?  They seem to believe there are 
obvious contradictions between general rel. and observation.

Mark Schlegel, Schlegel@unomaha.edu

Xref: sparky sci.astro:12215 sci.physics:19264
From: tarl@sw.stratus.com (Tarl Neustaedter)
Newsgroups: sci.astro,sci.physics
Subject: Re: Gravity waves (Was: Galilean Electrodynamics)
Date: 19 Nov 92 23:06:17 GMT
Organization: Stratus Computer, Inc.
NNTP-Posting-Host: coyoacan.sw.stratus.com

In article <1992Nov19.184622.21112@ucsu.Colorado.EDU>, beckmann@spot.Colorado.EDU (BECKMANN PETR) writes:
> However, when today's data are substituted in his method (with which nobody
> is familiar because the Principia are written in the "language" of geometry),
> they give slightly better results than the Gerber/"Einstein" formula. This
> was shown by J.C. Cure in Galilean Electrodynamics, vol. 2, pp. 43-47 (1991).

Can you provide the three points of data you allude to there?
	a) Today's data (observation of Mercury's perihelion advance)
	b) Amount predicted by G.R.
	c) Amount predicted by Newton's Principia method

I was under the impression that (a) and (b) agreed to within experimental
error; if we have new data that shows sufficient accuracy to disagree with
(b), I'd be interested in seeing it.
-- 
         Tarl Neustaedter	tarl@sw.stratus.com
         Marlboro, Mass.	Stratus Computer
Disclaimer: My employer is not responsible for my opinions.
Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: billosh@netcom.com (William E. O'Shaughnessy)
Subject: Re: Swift Tuttle Coordinates Wanted for Week of 11-16-92
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 06:26:40 GMT

Here are the coordinates the program "ephem" yielded for Swift/Tuttle
for November 1992.
			     Happy Comet Hunting,
			       Bill O'Shaughnessy

      Comet   Swift-Tuttle (1992t)
   UTC      DATE        RA       dec
   Time
 0:00:00  11/02/1992  16:43.9   42:19
 0:00:00  11/03/1992  16:50.9   41:03
 0:00:00  11/04/1992  16:57.8   39:45
 0:00:00  11/05/1992  17:04.4   38:26
 0:00:00  11/06/1992  17:10.8   37:05
 0:00:00  11/07/1992  17:17.1   35:43
 0:00:00  11/08/1992  17:23.2   34:20
 0:00:00  11/09/1992  17:29.0   32:56
 0:00:00  11/10/1992  17:34.7   31:31
 0:00:00  11/11/1992  17:40.2   30:06
 0:00:00  11/12/1992  17:45.6   28:41
 0:00:00  11/13/1992  17:50.7   27:16
 0:00:00  11/14/1992  17:55.7   25:50
 0:00:00  11/15/1992  18:00.6   24:25
 0:00:00  11/16/1992  18:05.3   23:01
 0:00:00  11/17/1992  18:09.8   21:37
 0:00:00  11/18/1992  18:14.2   20:13
 0:00:00  11/19/1992  18:18.5   18:51
 0:00:00  11/20/1992  18:22.6   17:30
 0:00:00  11/21/1992  18:26.7   16:10
 0:00:00  11/22/1992  18:30.6   14:51
 0:00:00  11/23/1992  18:34.3   13:33
 0:00:00  11/24/1992  18:38.0   12:17
 0:00:00  11/25/1992  18:41.6   11:02
 0:00:00  11/26/1992  18:45.1    9:48
 0:00:00  11/27/1992  18:48.4    8:36
 0:00:00  11/28/1992  18:51.7    7:25
 0:00:00  11/29/1992  18:54.9    6:16
 0:00:00  11/30/1992  18:58.0    5:08
 0:00:00  12/01/1992  19:01.1    4:01
 0:00:00  12/02/1992  19:04.0    2:57
 0:00:00  12/03/1992  19:06.9    1:53
 0:00:00  12/04/1992  19:09.7    0:51
Newsgroups: sci.astro,sci.space
From: rwmurphr@wildcat.ecn.uoknor.edu (Robert W Murphree)
Subject: Re: Japanese X-ray satellite: Astro_D
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 05:14:08 GMT
Organization: Engineering Computer Network, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA

slane@head-cfa.harvard.edu (Patrick Slane) writes:
>> The US hasn't launched any free-flyers in the X-ray since 
>> HEAO or Eistein 10 years ago, have they? A few detectors on
>> other people's satellites of course, but nothing big since
>> Einstein.

>Yes, the US space program has had it's difficulties with the concept
>behind these "Great Observatories" and this is changing. AXAF, while
>still undeniably a "big science" project, has been streamlined and
>divided into two missions. AXAF-I will provide the very high angular
>resolution mirrors necessary to do arc-second imaging - and will have
>spectral resolution like that of Astro-D (using a CCD developed by the
>same folks who are providing the Astro-D versions) plus gratings for
>higher resolution studies. AXAF-S will provide higher spectral resolution
>capabilities, with lower angular resolution mirrors. And though these
>missions are long overdue, the US x-ray community has hardly been
>sitting on its collective hands. Let's not forget that ROSAT was launched
>by the US and carries the HRI which is a US instrument, and that MAJOR
>portions of Astro-D (as John noted) were developed by US investigators.
>I know this is the "few detectors on other people's satellites" you
>were talking about, but between the two missions you've got US mirrors,
>CCDs, an HRI and a launch...

I guess, as an amateur astronomer and science kibbitzer my perspective
is different.  After HEAO(Einstein) got all those nice results that
were written up for us amateurs, it just seemed there WASN't any
extra-solar x-ray results to read about for about 10 years.  I know
it was probably like IRAS where you had new results from 10 year
old data every 6 months from 1983 til the present.  But it was very
FRUSTRATING to get that rush of results from the 60's and 70's and
then this 10 year desert.  I know the smaller japanese satellites 
and shuttle-born stuff was still producing results during that time
but there wasn't much in the popular science press describing it.
 
               
Maybe now some nice scientist will write up ROSAT's results in a
lengthy fashion for amateurs and I'll quit making snide comments
about The US contribution.  I know that US x-ray astronomers and
x-ray instrumentalists have not been idle and It's nice to know
that new technology like the higher energy resolution ccd detectors
is still being developed.  But it would also be nice, in paternalistic
controlling way, to think that we had a CONTINUOUS window observatory
on the x-ray window like the IUE and not these observatories that
go up for 2 years and then leave us with no eyes in that spectral
window for so long.  I also know that professionals whose careers 
depend on a 10 year mission suffer in a much more real way than
thankfully, I ever shall over the delays.  Probably as good a way
to learn patience as any other, I guess.   1
Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: pimentel@fwi.uva.nl (Andy Pimentel)
Subject: list of stars
Organization: FWI, University of Amsterdam
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 23:30:43 GMT

Hi,

I don't know whether this is a FAQ-question or not, but I'll shoot anyway:

I have a friend, a scifi writer, who is interested in a list of names, 
distances etc. of stars within a reach of 40 lightyears (don't flame me if
I said something completely uncool; i'm a real nitwit on this terrain). 
He needs the list for his following book. Any help to get hold of such a 
list would be appreciated.

/Andy

-- 
Andy Pimentel                         
University of Amsterdam                "If the facts don't fit the theory,
Dept. of Computer Science               change the facts."
Email: pimentel@fwi.uva.nl                                    Albert Einstein.
Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: bruce@spss.com (Bruce Stephenson)
Subject: Re: Kepler's Mom Not Burned...
Organization: SPSS Inc.
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1992 19:11:57 GMT

ghasting@vdoe386.vak12ed.edu (George Hastings) writes:

> [Kepler's] beliefs on astrology, numerology, and the music of the
>spheres were enough to get him burned at the stake by today's
>scientific community standards, but then again, he had this
>really SLICK IDEA ABOUT ORBITS!         8-)

Actually, Kepler had no beliefs I can think of to which the word
"numerology" might apply. His beliefs on astrology were pretty
reasonable for the time; after all, the overwhelming weight of credible
opinion _THEN_ was that astrological influence was a confirmed fact.
As far as the music of the spheres goes, well that was another 
matter.... ;^).
And he did have several slick ideas about orbits.

Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: roelle@uars_mag.jhuapl.edu (Curtis Roelle)
Subject: Re: Light pollution
Organization: Johns Hopkins University
Date: 17 Nov 92 21:46:46 GMT

mje@pookie.pass.wayne.edu (Michael Joseph Edelman) writes:

>In article ICK@access.digex.com, rbunge@access.digex.com (Robert Bunge) writes:
>>  [...]
>>REMEMBER THESE LETTERS: IDA - Internation Dark Sky Assoc.  They advertise
>>in both ASTRONOMY and Sky & Telescope Magazines.  For 20 to $50 dollars a
>>year, YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.  YES, I'M YELLING... AT ALL OF YOU.

>Hear, hear! First thing I did when I got active again was to join IDA. Only
>$20 to help bring back dark skies? A bargain. Given that the typical scope is probably 
>around $1,000 or more, and given that $20 won't even buy a single eyepiece, what is everybody waiting for?           --mike

If you can't spare $20 but are in an astronomy club, then get your club
to join.  IDA has several membership options.   Find a way to join. 

Their address is:
			International Dark-Sky Association
			3545 N. Stewart Avenue
			Tucson, Arizona,  85716

Curt
From: z_johnsta@ccsvax.sfasu.edu
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: Planetarium
Date: 20 Nov 92 13:35:57 CST
Organization: Stephen F. Austin State University



     I know this isn't specific to this newsgroup, so please don't flame me for
it (At least I'm not selling AmWay marketing memberships or talking about
Larsonion Physics, anyway...).  

     I work in the planetarium here at SFA, and I was wondering if anyone had
ever used the A-Bus from Alpha Micro (or Alpha-something, I don't remember
what...) to control slide projectors in a planetarium or similar environment. I
know the thing has several types of D-A converter cards, Relay cards, and
Stepper Motor controller cards, so it should't be hard to do.  I am interested
in any experiences any of you have had with the A-Bus in particular, but I am
also open to suggestions regarding other products as well. 

     Also, I am also interested in new planetarium shows, and GIF images that
could be used in shows.  Also, anyone wishing to correspond about planetariums
will be welcomed, and I will reply personally to all messages.  I am not the
director or the coordinator of our planetarium, so I do not have access to
budget information or even original cost details.  I am only technical support
here, and we don't make our own shows, (although it sometimes seems like that
might be easier than masking/sizing store-bought transparencies!) so I do not
have a great deal of technical expertise either.  I do, however, enjoy my work
very much and would like to correspond to others who have similar interests.

                                     Timothy A. Johns


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
:  Timothy A. Johns                 Z_JohnsTA@ccsvax.sfasu.edu                :
:  P.O. Box 16050 S.F.A.            Physics/Computer Science Undergraduate    :
:  Nacogdoches, TX  75962           Stephen F. Austin State University        :
:  Hm: (409) 560-1876               Wk: S.F.A. Planetarium (409) 568-3009     :
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: mcdonald@aries.scs.uiuc.edu (J. D. McDonald)
Subject: Re: Sky&Tel Weekly News Bulletin
Organization: UIUC SCS
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 21:07:49 GMT

In article <By6IGI.BA@utdallas.edu> bcollins@utdallas.edu (ARLIN B COLLINS) writes:


> GLIMPSING SWIFT-TUTTLE 
> If for some reason you've put off trying to find Comet Swift-Tuttle,
> you'd best get outside this week.
> So, what are you waiting for? 


Lack of 100% cloud cover, you fool. :-(

Doug McDonad
Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: ghasting@vdoe386.vak12ed.edu (George Hastings)
Subject: Re: Kepler's Mom Not Burned...
Organization: Virginia's Public Education Network (Richmond)
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 92 18:09:01 GMT

stone@cwis.unomaha.edu  writes:
> 
> 
> It is absolutely correct that Old Lady Kepler was spared an
> appearance at the local Sizzler, due in large to the "hated
> mathematicus, Johannes Kepler";

     Great-great-great-great-great grandpa really had a GIANT
headache trying to keep her out of the clutches of the
witch-burners!
     HIS beliefs on astrology, numerology, and the music of the
spheres were enough to get him burned at the stake by today's
scientific community standards, but then again, he had this
really SLICK IDEA ABOUT ORBITS!         8-)

--
From: corleyj@argon.gas.uug.arizona.edu (Jason D Corley )
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: Re: Good Schools?
Date: 20 Nov 92 18:09:32 GMT
Organization: University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

In article <141116.2B0C1FA2@paranet.FIDONET.ORG> Mike.Ditto@p0.f240.n104.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Mike Ditto) writes:
>In a message to All <11-19-92 12:37> Stephen K Johnson wrote:
>
>SK> I am looking for schools that have a good astronomy program
>SK> since my
>SK> school does not have one thank you.
>SK>
>SK>
>SK>                                         Kelly
>SK>
>SK> ---------------------
>SK> Stephen Kelly Johnson
>SK> SKJOHN01@MIK.UKY.EDU
>SK> ---------------------
>SK>
>
>
>Kelly-
>        The University of Wyoming has a highly acclaimed astronomy program. 
>they have an undergraduate degree in astronomy/astrophysics.  They 

Also, the University of Arizona has a very well-put-together astronomy
program.  I am an undergraduate major in math and physics (but I loove
astronomy :) and the basic, entry-level astronomy course I got into
requires that you go to the 30" telescope and make some observations.
This was my first time on a "big" telescope and it was unforgettable.
Even the artsy people who only took in because they had heard that
it was an easy lab science (they were wrong) were awed by the
detail.  Sometimes, when I read this newsgroup, I tend to forget
that all it really takes to amaze people is a relatively small
telescope pointed at some relatively familiar objects.  I know
this is more of a personal narrative than a description of the
program, but they treat undergraduates with respect and give you
lots of opportunities for observation time here.  If you want
more information, I'm sure they would be glad to give it to you.
	Good luck in your search, Kelly!
	Jason
Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: cmarton@epas.utoronto.ca (Christine Marton)
Subject: SEDS meeting
Organization: University of Toronto - EPAS
Distribution: tor
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1992 01:33:24 GMT

Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (U of T chapter)
will hold its monthly meeting at the International Student Centre
(St. George St. & College St)
The speaker is Norman Evensen, Dept. of Geophysics, U of T
Subject:   The Smoking Gun:  Dinosaurs and Extraterrestrial Impact
Time:  5pm
Date:  Tuesday Dec. 1
Cumberland Room, ISC
for more information contact Christine  699-6790,  cmarton@epas.utoronto.ca
From: jbatka@desire.wright.edu
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: Re: NASA Duplicity?
Date: 19 Nov 92 10:04:03 EST
Organization:  Wright State University 

In article <722110960.F00001@contrast.wlink.nl>, qsi@contrast.wlink.nl (Peter Kocourek) writes:
> 
>  Firstly, it was alleged that NASA increased the size of a mountain on
>  Venus (no name given) by a factor of 25, to make it more spectacular,
>  and make the evening news.

I don't know about the rest, but this one is very probably true.  I have
seen several computer animations (and graphics) completed by NASA (
and JPL), which have had their scales changed.  In ALL of the cases I've
seen, in the back ground a statement is made that says "vertical distances
have been enlarged to enhance the features."  There is nothing wrong
with changing scales to enhance features, I do it all the time when I
make charts.

>  
>  Secondly, NASA was alleged to have to have manipulated the results of
>  surveys of the hole in the ozone layer, saying it was larger than its
>  measurements showed.
>  
>  Thirdly, the well-known COBE graphic, that appeared in all newspapers,
>  showing anisotropies in the cosmic background radiation, is alleged to
>  have been only a graphic of test results, not of the actual measurements
>  themselves.
>  
-- 

   Jim Batka  | Always remember ...                        | Buckaroo
   Modemman   |    No matter where you go, there you are!  |   Bonzai
--------------+--------------------------------------------+--------------
It is very    | Work Email:  BATKAJ@CCMAIL.DAYTON.SAIC.COM | Elvis is
often easier  | Home Email:  JBATKA@DESIRE.WRIGHT.EDU      |   DEAD!
to get for-   |--------------------------------------------+--------------
giveness then | 64 years is 33,661,440 minutes ...         | Beatles:
permission    |    and a minute is a LONG time!            |   Yellow Submarine
Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: gawne@stsci.edu
Subject: Re: Coputers and the Hubble
Organization: Space Telescope Science Institute
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 04:33:48 GMT

In article <9211182329.AA17469@_vader.cc.emory.edu_>, 
thfore@vader.cc.emory.edu writes:

> The article about the Hubble in a recent issue of Sky and Telescope  
> never got technical about the computers used at the Space Telescope  
> Science Institute to drive HST ( such as image processing and  
> enhancement, etc). Does anyone know about this?

The Science Operations Ground System (SOGS) consists of 3 VAX 8650's, one
VAX 8600, one VAX 6000, one VAX 4000, and a whole bunch of DEC stations
(4000's, 3100's etc...)  The whole thing runs in VMS.  We use a locally
enhanced version of IRAF for data analysis.  All science data is in FITS
format.

-Bill Gawne,  Space Telescope Science Institute
From: j.jahn@abbs.hanse.de (Jost Jahn)
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: Sunspots at 17.11.1992.
Reply-To: j.jahn@abbs.hanse.de
Date: 17 Nov 92 19:01:00 MET
Distribution: sci
Organization: ABBS AstroMail, D-W 2121 Dahlenburg / Germany
X-Version: ZerUU V6.45c

Sunspots at 17.11.1992., 0 h UT.

No.    Pos.  Cl.  Ar.  Mag. SF  F  M  X
---------------------------------------
7334 12N 78W Cro   40   b
7335 18S 68W Eko  340   b    2
7337 07N 01E Cao   70   b
7340 09S 32E Bxo   20   b
7341 16S 24W Bxo   10   b    2
7342 07S 08E Cao   50   b
7344 14S 53E Axx   10   a
7345 23S 73E Eao  240   b    6
7346 04S 79E Hsx   50   a


No optical or x-ray flares yesterday observed.


 
--
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ABBS AstroMail, the first and most popular German astronomical bulletin board
------------------------- for amateur astronomers ----------------------------
    + 49 5851 7896 / V.21, V.22, V.22bis, V.32, V.42, V.42bis and MNP5
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Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: andy@wasp.eng.ufl.edu (Andy Wilcox)
Subject: Hubble Black Hole Pictures
Reply-To: andy@wasp.eng.ufl.edu (Andy Wilcox)
Organization: U of Florida  Engineering Computer Support Facility
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 92 19:46:54 GMT

The other night on the evening news they showed some rather dramitic
still pictures of what may be a black hole taken recently from the
HST.  Are these pictures available on the internet?  I'd really like
to show them to a number of people...

Thanks!

Andy
From: sichase@csa1.lbl.gov (SCOTT I CHASE)
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: Re: NASA Duplicity?
Date: 19 Nov 92 19:40:00 GMT
Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory - Berkeley, CA, USA
NNTP-Posting-Host: 128.3.254.196
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

In article <1992Nov19.100403.5701@desire.wright.edu>, jbatka@desire.wright.edu writes...
>In article <722110960.F00001@contrast.wlink.nl>, qsi@contrast.wlink.nl (Peter Kocourek) writes:
>> 
>>  Firstly, it was alleged that NASA increased the size of a mountain on
>>  Venus (no name given) by a factor of 25, to make it more spectacular,
>>  and make the evening news.
> 
>I don't know about the rest, but this one is very probably true.  I have
>seen several computer animations (and graphics) completed by NASA (
>and JPL), which have had their scales changed.  In ALL of the cases I've
>seen, in the back ground a statement is made that says "vertical distances
>have been enlarged to enhance the features."  There is nothing wrong
>with changing scales to enhance features, I do it all the time when I
>make charts.


To clarify a bit:

There is quite a difference between choosing an appropriate vertical 
scale to display your data (which is what NASA and the rest of the world
does) and changing the facts, which I think is what the poster was
worried about.  NASA has never quoted a height that is 25 times larger
than the actual measured height of a Venusian feature in order to make
the evening news.  

-Scott
--------------------
Scott I. Chase			"It is not a simple life to be a single cell,
SICHASE@CSA2.LBL.GOV		 although I have no right to say so, having
				 been a single cell so long ago myself that I 
				 have no memory at all of that stage of my 
				 life." - Lewis Thomas