[Arthalion]

Thus when Genesis says that the moon and stars were placed "for navigation in the night" he's referring to the earth's tilt aligning precisely with the north star (so people can navigate).

There's just one problem with that theory...the stars move. We regard them as static because they don't move much in an individual lifetime, but even in recorded history the stars have migrated quite a bit. In 3000 BC, for example, astronomical records clearly show that Thuban held the pole position, and Polaris was simply "nearby". In the time of Christ, there WAS NO pole star, and navigators determined north by finding the two stars (Thuban and Polaris) and declaring it to be the spot precisely between them. Today, Polaris has assumed the spot (it will actually be closest to true north around 2100, and then start moving away again). 5000 years from now, Alderamin will be the pole star. 12,000 years from now Vega will be the pole star. Between those times will be LONG stretches with no pole star at all.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Rigth.

Which is why many find attractive the "clearing of the atmosphere" (due to plants) the justification for that section.

Permanent clouds = no scientific wonder at thes tars. No navigation. Harder exploration.