HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: gmartin@zia.aoc.nrao.edu (George Martin)
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: Re: sci.astro.amateur?
Keywords: Yes, people DO read this field on occasion.  ;-)
Date: 17 Apr 92 04:30:52 GMT
Article-I.D.: zia.1992Apr17.043052.7382
Organization: National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Socorro NM

In article <70421@ut-emx.uucp> yaron@astro.as.utexas.edu (Yaron Sheffer) writes:
>It seems that one cannot split sci.astro into amateur/prof sub groups
>because we are all involved with both aspects (well I AM).
>I suggest the following categories:
>
>sci.astro.gazing - specifically for people who only want the non-prof
>		way of investigating the sky. This can be very scientific
>		and technical, except will not lead to ApJ publications.
>sci.astro.news - excellent idea for celestial happenings that are coming
>		soon to a sky near you!
>sci.astro - still will be used for light and heavy discussions and inquiries
>		of all sorts, with professional input more than welcomed.
>sci.astro.aliens - For all practical purposes I see this as an empty group
>		for the forseeable future:)

If past Usenet precedent/examples are used, the sci.astro above
would change to sci.astro.misc.  And of course there would be needed a
sci.astro.advocacy
       for flames so that one could say take it adovcacy.

I don't think, at present, that there needs to be a split as things
are now.

For those who are in favor of a split, if one K. Dolan is lurking
and volunteers to run a vote, a word to the wise ....
-- 
George Martin
Systems Analyst                     NRAO/VLA                  Socorro NM
Internet: gmartin@zia.aoc.nrao.edu
"Skating away on the thin ice of the new day."  (Ian Anderson)
Newsgroups: sci.astro.hubble
From: dbriggs@zia.aoc.nrao.edu (Daniel Briggs)
Subject: RFD for image processing group(s)
Originator: uk1@spacsun.rice.edu
Organization: National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Socorro NM
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1992 15:13:26 GMT

I just thought I'd point out that there is a discussion about an possible
image processing group over on news.groups.  I think it's a *great* idea,
and about bloody time, too.  But I seem to be surrounded by computer
vision / computer graphics people.  Could we get some scientific image
processing people over there too?  If we don't act now, we're likely to end
up with comp.graphics.image.processing, which would be a gross restriction
on an otherwise tremendously useful group.  Actually, I'd like to see a
general imaging group, not restricted to conventional image processing
techniques, but expanded to included techniques of indirect observation,
calibration and processing, as well as general imaging theory.  Say
sci.imaging.  Do we have enough support for such a group?

-- 
| Daniel Briggs  (dbriggs@nrao.edu)                      |        USPA B-14993
| New Mexico Tech / National Radio Astronomy Observatory |            DoD #387
| P.O. Box O / Socorro, NM 87801   (505) 835-7391        |
Support the League for Programming Freedom  (info from league@prep.ai.mit.edu)

Newsgroups: sci.astro.hubble
From: au455@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Douglas S. Caprette)
Subject: HST GSC
Originator: uk1@spacsun.rice.edu
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1992 15:53:08 GMT


I understand that the HST Guide Star Catalog is available, with
software, from the Astronomical Society of the Pacific.  The sofware is
presumeably copyrighted by the ASP.  Who holds the copyright on the
Guide Star Catalog itself?  AURA?  Or, is it not copyrightable?

--
Bertal H. Steinein                  "I am not a number.
au455@cleveland.freenet.edu          I am a free man."  -- #6
Chagrin Valley Astronomical Society
From: dbriggs@zia.aoc.nrao.edu (Daniel Briggs)
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: RFD for IMAGE PROCESSING group
Date: 13 Apr 92 18:20:11 GMT
Article-I.D.: zia.1992Apr13.182011.3389
Organization: National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Socorro NM

[Third and last time that I'm going to try and post this.  Sorry about the
multiple posts, but something in the crosspost list is buggering things!]

I just thought I'd point out that there is a discussion about an possible
image processing group over on news.groups.  I think it's a *great* idea,
and about bloody time, too.  But I seem to be surrounded by computer
vision / computer graphics people.  Could we get some scientific image
processing people over there too?  If we don't act now, we're likely to end
up with comp.graphics.image.processing, which would be a gross restriction
on an otherwise tremendously useful group.  Actually, I'd like to see a
general imaging group, not restricted to conventional image processing
techniques, but expanded to included techniques of indirect observation,
calibration and processing, as well as general imaging theory.  Say
sci.imaging.  Do we have enough support for such a group?

-- 
| Daniel Briggs  (dbriggs@nrao.edu)                      |        USPA B-14993
| New Mexico Tech / National Radio Astronomy Observatory |            DoD #387
| P.O. Box O / Socorro, NM 87801   (505) 835-7391        |
Support the League for Programming Freedom  (info from league@prep.ai.mit.edu)
Newsgroups: sci.astro,sci.space
From: dirk@spacsun.rice.edu (Dirk Valk)
Subject: Re: Shape and Size of Universe
Reply-To: dirk@spacsun.rice.edu (Dirk Valk)
Organization: Dept. of Space Physics, Rice University, Houston TX
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1992 16:20:15 GMT

In article <kumihhINN6dt@pollux.usc.edu>, aabdalla@pollux.usc.edu (Ahmed Abd-Allah) writes:
|> 
|> 1.  What is the most widely accepted theory of the shape of the
|> 	universe?  A four-dimensional hypersphere? 
|> 

Well, let's say for now that it's a four-D hypersurface.  The actual form 
of the surface depends on the value of cosmological constants that are 
currently the source of debate.  If this cosmological parameter is greater
than some value, yes, the universe is a hypersphere and will eventually collapse.
If it is equal to the critical value, the universe is a hyperplane.  If it is
less than the critical value, the hypersurface is kind of like a saddle.  Neither
of the latter two will collapse into a 'big crunch'. 

|> 2.  Is the size of the universe infinite or finite?  If the universe
|> 	is indeed a hypersphere, can it also be infinite, or is a
|> 	hypersphere by definition (like an ordinary sphere) finite?
|>

Depends on your definition, I guess.  A topologist could field this one better.
 
|> 3.  If we accept the Big Bang theory as the creation of spacetime, and
|> 	if the universe has been expanding at a finite rate, doesn't 
|> 	this imply that the universe is finite?
|>

Well, the Big Bang was more like the unfolding of spacetime, so in some sense
spacetime has existed into the pre-Big Bang era.  However, as far as we are 
concerned, yes if the Big Bang is the correct model for the early universe, 
it represents the start of time as we understand it.
 
|> 4.  If the universe is indeed a (finite) hypersphere, does this mean
|> 	that if we travel in a "straight" line, we'll ultimately end
|> 	up where we started?
|>

Yes. 

-- 
: Dirk Valk             |"And if it doesn't work out,                      :
: Rice Univeristy       | There'll never be any doubt,                     :
: dirk@spacsun.rice.edu | That the pleasure was worth all the pain."       :
: Space Physics & Astro.|                         - Jimmy Buffett          :
From: dgrimmer@wtcp.DaytonOH.NCR.COM (Dave Grimmer)
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: Jupiter Transits
Date: 9 Apr 92 12:43:00 GMT
Reply-To: dgrimmer@wtcp.DaytonOH.NCR.COM (Dave Grimmer)
Organization: Info Res Planning - Dayton, OH

A few months ago I asked a question in this forum about finding an
algorithm to predict eclipses and transits of Jupiter and its moons.
I didn't get any response at all  :-(  ...   Maybe the posting didn't
get off my local machine.

Can someone tell me where I can find the formulas/algorithms to calculate
eclipses and transits of Jupiter and its moons?  I see tables of this
information published in S&T and the Observer's Handbook.  Where do these
tables come from?  I would like to find a PC package that would present
a picture of these type of events.  Is there already a package on the 
market that will do this?  I already have software that will show the 
motions of the 4 major moons, but nothing to show eclipse and transit
times.

If no package already exists that presents a graphical display of these
events, I would consider writing one if there is enough interest.  Does
anyone have a program like this?  If not, does anyone want a package
like this?
-- 
Dave Grimmer
email: Dave.Grimmer@DaytonOH.NCR.COM    CompuServe: 70412,2455
From: sla@fast.ucsc.edu (Steve Allen)
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: Re: ...all the mirrors are in!!
Summary: that's nice, how about a focal plane instrument?
Keywords: We're making the HIRES Echelle Spectrograph
Date: 16 Apr 92 05:32:15 GMT
Organization: UCO/Lick Observatory

In article <1992Apr16.034621.13301@news.Hawaii.Edu> dlm@galileo.ifa.hawaii.edu (Spacee) writes:
>******         KECK is finished!!      ******
>Debbie

I suppose Debbie will be heading straight up to the summit to look at
the view thru an eyepiece at prime or Cass focus ;-) ???
But seriously...
It might be nice to save the applause until at least one of the focal
plane instruments is delivered so we can do some science with all those
photons.  That's still gonna be a few more months.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Steve Allen          | That was the equation!         |   sla@helios.ucsc.edu
UCO/Lick Observatory | Existence!...Survival must     | If the UC were opining,
Santa Cruz, CA 95064 | cancel out programming! -- Ruk | it wouldn't tell me.
From: joe@montebello.NoSubdomain.NoDomain (Joe Dellinger)
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: Re: sci.astro.amateur?
Keywords: Does anybody actually read these?
Date: 8 Apr 92 09:45:34 GMT
Article-I.D.: news.1992Apr8.094534.25396
Reply-To: joe@montebello.soest.hawaii.edu
Organization: School of Ocean and Earth Science Technology

In article <121988@lll-winken.LLNL.GOV>, howell@grover.llnl.gov (Louis Howell) writes:
|> On the other hand, the idea of a split is not without merit.  This is the
|> biggest single group I currently read.

	I would dearly like to see a "sci.astro.urgent". When I'm busy I
don't have the time to follow sci.astro, because the volume is too large.
I always wonder what once-in-a-lifetime astronomical opportunity I might
be missing. Certainly the local newspapers here wouldn't carry any such
thing!

	Sci.astro.urgent should have VERY low volume; it would only carry
urgent reports for stuff like supernovas, novas, new bright comets, really
_exceptional_ auroras, unexpectedly good meteor showers, etc, that would be
of wide interest AND of a short-lived nature. I would expect very few postings
in it, but I would also expect to poll it often "just in case".

	Comments?

     /\    /\    /\/\/\/\/\/\/\.-.-.-.-.......___________
    /  \  /  \  /Hawaii Institute of Geophysics, Honolulu\/\/\.-.-....__
___/    \/    \/Joe Dellinger, Internet: joe@montebello.soest.hawaii.edu\/\.-.__
Xref: sparky sci.astro:5028 sci.space:7550
From: rjp1@cbnewsc.cb.att.com (be here now)
Newsgroups: sci.astro,sci.space
Subject: comet approaching?
Date: 15 Apr 92 20:19:27 GMT

Hello.

I've heard stories about an approaching comet or meteor that is
to pass quite close to the Earth, sometime in December 1992.  I
have also heard that a previous meteor passed close the earth last
December as well, but not as close as was predicted.  Perhaps the
story on the up and coming one for 1992 is nothing more than a bit
of leftover wishful thinking from the last (not so) near miss?

A couple of days ago I saw a short blurb on CNN about scientists
taking seriously, the notion of putting together some sort of anti-
meteor defense system so if there was a meteor on collision course,
it could be blasted or moved out of harm's way.  Just how serious
is this kind of reasoning.  Is there precedence??

If anyone has any information about this, please post (or email).
Thanks.


--
rj pietkivitch      |  "Moon, my long lost friend, is smiling from above."
rjp1@ihspa.att.com  |   -- Genesis, Stagnation
Xref: sparky sci.astro:5054 sci.space:7570 news.answers:1073
From: andromed@ac.dal.ca
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: JUPITER OBSERVATION
Date: 11 Apr 92 13:56:07 GMT
Organization: Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Well took a look at Jupiter last night Apr.9/10
from 0H 30M to 0100 UT using the 80 mm refractor
the planets NEB was thin and dark while the SEB
was broad and dark. The south part of the planet
was bright while the NPR and SPR were noticed,
not too much seen at 228x even at 156x the planet
was good, some atmospheric turbulence but the image
was steady. I did note the SEB had a slight reddis
tinge to it..
 Hope others will get out to observe and post their observations
on here...would be interesting to get observers telling what
they saw...

                            Mike Boschat
Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: jx02@sol.acs.unt.edu (Benge Raymond Doyle Jr.)
Subject: Re: Clyde Tombaugh
Organization: University of North Texas
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1992 20:08:00 GMT

<IP25086@portland.caps.maine.edu> writes:

>Could somebody tell me if Clyde Tombaugh, discoverer of Pluto is
>still alive?  I was just curious.

The latest I heard was that he is not only still alive, but doing well.
This makes him the only living discoverer of a planet (unless you count
discoverers of asteroids or the astronomers who claim to have found 
planets around other stars).

		Ray Benge

Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: knapp@spot.Colorado.EDU (David Knapp)
Subject: Re: Ring arcs of Neptune
Keywords: Lagrangian points
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1992 05:05:57 GMT

In article <1992Apr9.163440.5236@mailer.cc.fsu.edu> cain@geomag.gly.fsu.edu (Joe Cain) writes:
>
>	In the article by Joseph Burns in the New Solar System (Sky
>Publishing 1990, p. 163) a reference is made to a theory that the ring
>arcs are related to the (L4 and L5 I presume) Lagrangian locations of
>a sheparding satellite. If this is a viable theory for Neptune, why is
>some bunching not also seen around the other ringed planets>
>

I had thought that analysis of Voyager data proved these 'arcs' to be only
albedo features, not missing material. I don't know why there would
be varying albedo features though.

I know that Neptune's rings are *much* more tenuous than Saturn's, or even 
Jupiter's ring(s). Perhaps Neptune's ring is dominated by processes other
than collisional and keplerian dynamics.  Electrostatic? Dunno.

Please post any info you get, this is a very fascinating topic!
>


-david

-- 

**************************************************************************
Corrected .sig for those who did not see the absurdity of the original one.
**************************************************************************
From: rjg@umnstat.stat.umn.edu (Robert J. Granvin)
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: Weight of Earth?
Date: 16 Apr 92 03:07:25 GMT
Article-I.D.: news2.1992Apr16.030725.4325
Organization: School of Statistics, University of Minnesota

I know it's a strange question, and I know I can probably find it in
a library (if I had the time to go there :-), but I'm in need of the
approximate weight of the Earth (in tonnage?).

Does anyone have such a number on the tips of their fingers that they
could email me?  Would appreciate it...

-- 
Robert J. Granvin                                       School of Statistics
rjg@umnstat.stat.umn.edu                             University of Minnesota
Xref: sparky sci.astro:4925 rec.photo:6956
From: reinhard@scivax.stsci.edu
Newsgroups: sci.astro,rec.photo
Subject: Changing a screen on Pentax KX!
Date: 9 Apr 92 23:25:16 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Space Telescope Science Institute


Can anyone tell me if it is possible to change the 
focusing screen on a Pentax KX?  If it is possible
how do you do it and where can one get replacement
screens?  

There is no easy latching system that allows you to 
remove the screen easily.  I only plan on doing this
once so if it takes some time and effort that is o.k.

Thanks.

Kent 
Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: irwin@iago.caltech.edu (Horowitz, Irwin Kenneth)
Subject: Re: Save Palomar Observatory!
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.40    
Organization: California Institute of Technology
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1992 00:52:00 GMT

In article <1992Apr6.034240.11025@maccs.dcss.mcmaster.ca>, fischer@physun.physics.mcmaster.ca (Phil Fischer) writes...
>This is not generally an economically sound idea. It would probably be 
>cheaper to build a telescope from scratch at a new sight. At the risk
>of incurring a lot of wrath, perhaps astronomers should begin to accept
>that telecopes should not be expected to last 100 years or more. The
>technology since Hale was built has changed radically, and telescopes
>like Hale were not designed for modern instrumentation (i.e. CCD's).
>What one tends to see is older telescopes with new instrumentation
>with less than satisfactory results and one has to consider the 
>possibilty that perhaps astronomy is not best served by draining away
>money into older telescopes instead of channelling it into newer ones
>ans closing the older ones down.
> 
I must respond to this...

What do you mean, less than satisfactory results?  You're discussing the
telescope that has, over the past 5 years, been used to discover about
70% of quasars with redshifts above 4.0.  You're talking about a telescope
that has been used to probe the infrared to a greater degree than anywhere
else in the world.  I'm sorry to disappoint you, but the 200 inch telescope
is not only "not obsolete," but is still one of the top 10 optical telescopes
(in terms of science performance) in the world (and is probably in the top 3).
Why get rid of it now?  Why not fight to protect it?  Why give in to the rabid
ravings of some fringe politician on the SD City Council, who has this crazy
idea that they can reduce crime by destroying Palomar Observatory.  All of the
experts on the subject have stated that the type of lighting used in the city
of San Diego has no bearing on the rate of criminal activity.  If it did, then
why is the rate of crime so much higher in cities that use HPS lighting?  Such
as Los Angeles?  The lights of LA have destroyed Mt. Wilson Observatory, let's
not let the lights of San Diego do the same thing to Palomar!!!!!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Irwin Horowitz                        |
Astronomy Department                  |"Whoever heard of a female astronomer?"
California Institute of Technology    |--Charlene Sinclair, "Dinosaurs"
irwin@iago.caltech.edu                |
ih@deimos.caltech.edu                 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: njzy@vax5.cit.cornell.edu (T. Joseph Lazio, Cornell University)
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: Supernova 1992A
Date: 8 Apr 92 13:08:29 EST
Distribution: sci
Organization: Cornell University

Keywords:  Supernova 1992A
Summary:  ?

 Anybody know anything about SN1992A?  I have a (non-science) friend
 asking me questions.  Any and all help is appreciated; respond by 
 e-mail.  Thanks in advance.

--
 T. Joseph Lazio                | Why relativity? and Why  
 514 Space Sciences             | turbulence?  I really believe   
 Ithaca, NY  14853              | [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
From: irwin@iago.caltech.edu (Horowitz, Irwin Kenneth)
Subject: Re: Save Palomar Observatory!
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.40    
Organization: California Institute of Technology
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 18:17:00 GMT

In article <4552@m1.cs.man.ac.uk>, mario@cs.man.ac.uk (Mario Wolczko) writes...
>I know the US is already a very litiginous society, and I know this
>isn't an ideal solution, but..  Could you threaten to sue the San
>Diego authority for the costs of relocating equipment that was
>rendered ineffective by the extra light pollution?  For example, if
>some expensive detector is useless, but could be used somewhere
>else, then sue them for relocation costs (plus associated overheads
>of course).  If the detector is tailor-made for the 5m, sue them
>for the cost of building a new one for a different instrument.  And
>if the whole observatory is effectively rendered, useless, sue for the
>price of building a new one.
> 
>Of course, you only threaten to sue -- that way they're unsure abou
>the outcome, and the potential damages.  It may frighten them off.
> 
>It's amazing how the potential loss of large sums of money can
>sharpen the mind...
> 
>Mario
A better idea may be to threaten to get a federal court to issue an injunction
on the change to HPS until an EIS can be issued (Environmental Impact Statement)
on such things as the increased development in North SD County should Palomar
be rendered useless.  You really want to screw things up, call for an EIS to
be issued...it always seems to put a wrench into the monkeyworks :-).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Irwin Horowitz                        |
Astronomy Department                  |"Whoever heard of a female astronomer?"
California Institute of Technology    |--Charlene Sinclair, "Dinosaurs"
irwin@iago.caltech.edu                |
ih@deimos.caltech.edu                 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: sci.astro
From: msb@sq.sq.com (Mark Brader)
Subject: Re: sci.astro.amateur? And sci.astro.urgent?
Organization: SoftQuad Inc., Toronto, Canada
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 92 20:49:21 GMT


Back in the days when the common prefix for net-wide newsgroups was "net",
the old "net.astro" was supplemented with a "net.astro.expert".  It didn't
work, and I don't think sci.astro.amateur will work.

I also don't think an unmoderated sci.astro.urgent will work.  In addition
to the problem that people *will* forget to redirect followups, a name
like that would be a magnet for the bozos who choose their newsgroups
according to audience size instead of relevance to their topic.  I can
just see it:

	 1     Make money fast!
	 2     Re: Make money fast!
	 3     Re: Make money fast!
	 4     Re: Make money fast!
	 5     Re: Make money fast!
	 6     Isn't this group about astronomy? (was: Re: Make money fast!)
	 7     Re: Make money fast!
	 8     Re: Make money fast!
	 9     Re: Isn't this group about astronomy? (was: Re: Make money fast!)
	10     Betelgeuse goes supernova
	11     Get these bozos off the group (was: Re: Make money fast!)
	12     Re: Make money fast!
	13     Get these bozos off the group (was: Re: Make money fast!)
	14     Re: Make money fast!

If moderation-delay is a problem, then perhaps more than one person could
volunteer to moderate -- whichever moderator gets to it first sends
it out.  Multiple moderation has been successful in other groups such as
rec.arts.sf.reviews, but I don't know how the moderators there avoid
sending the same message out more than once.

I would also recommend the name sci.astro.announce rather than .urgent.

Finally, I note that while it may be useful to have preliminary discussion
here, by Usenet guidelines any attempt to actually create a new group must
begin with a Request for Discussion posted to the moderated group
news.announce.newgroups.  (It should be crossposted to affected groups,
i.e. to sci.astro in this case.)  Discussion should then take place
in news.groups, NOT in the group whose split is being discussed.
-- 
Mark Brader		For I do not believe that the stars are spread over a
Toronto			spherical surface at equal distances from one center;
utzoo!sq!msb		I suppose their distances from us to vary so much that
msb@sq.com		some are 2 or 3 times as remote as others.   -- Galileo

This article is in the public domain.
Newsgroups: sci.astro,sci.space