Posted on 06/01/2005 1:54:19 PM PDT by Michael_Michaelangelo
Ping
Thanks for the ping!
Wow, this is a ridiculous statement.
The fact that the Sun is about 400 times larger and about 400 times more distant than the moon is coincidence. (Notice the about's in there... so much for the "perfect" eclipses.) In fact, I'd venture to guess that humanity probably would have had an earlier understanding of the true nature of the Earth/Moon/Sun relationship had this coincidence not existed. You wouldn't have had those lesser light/greater light fallacies, or the Sun-being-eaten-by-the-moon myths.
But I think you did him one better.
Oh, do tell me how. Please, wise one...
Lot's of "science" was driven by the "need" to predict eclipses.
bttt
"Did you see the beautiful sun set last night" asked the Astronomy Professor.
Who is perpetuating silliness here.
Absolutely. And that "need" still would have existed if the moon appeared to be, say, 3/4 the size of the sun. But where such an obvious disparity in size existed, superstition is less likely and scientific study more likely, in my opinion.
Who is perpetuating silliness here.
If I were a smart-ass I would say you are, given the fact that the word "sunset" is simply a common word (and a single word, at that) and not a scientific statement of the relationship between the earth and the sun.
Things get quiet around totality, not just when it gets a little darker. Partial eclipses are not particularly spectacular, heavy overcast is just about as effective.
The sun goeth down and the sun riseth.
True. But in terms of prediction, it would be almost as likely that you would want to predict a 3/4 eclipse, and thereby develop the tools of prediction. But it could go the other way, too. If the sun appeared to be only 3/4 the size of the moon, then you would have longer total eclipses, and as much, if not more "need" to predict them than you would have now.
I am not saying that we would have lost something if we did not have the near 1/1 ratio. Clearly we would have. The ability to see the corona, for example, or study the sun in the way that a 1/1 ratio and the potential for annular eclipses provides, would have been a huge loss. But I'm just saying there would have been benefits, too.
I am willing to say that it is fantastic that this coincidence exists. But it is farcical to say that this coincidence and our being here are "intimately linked." Not even old-time astrologers went that far.
I don't think you'd like the calculations for a small sun.
No, I didn't mean it as biblical commentary. I was referring to the fact that some people believe that both the sun and the moon generate light, when, of course, moonlight is nothing more than reflected sunlight.
Sorry, I'm not following you.
Planets that can support life are not likely to be common.
Good thing there are a LOT of planets.
All of you realize that the odds of your 'parent' sperm fertilizing an ova are astronomical too. Does that mean it's impossible for us to be hear by random chance? God had to pick the winning swimmer or it would be impossible for each of us to be hear.
Excellent! Thanks for the link!
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