Posts Made By: Maurice Clark

Hi Chad,

Apart from what has already been mentioned, another good one is the Center for Backyard Astrophisics. They do a lot of work on cataclysmic variables.

There is also another one majoring in exoplanet transits. Sorry but I cannot remember the website at the moment, but a google search should find it. Lots of interesting work being done there.

One of the biggest changes I see in the past 10 years has been the opening up of new research areas for backyarders with all the wonderful new toys available!

Cheers,

Maurice

If you are in the California area in May, here is a good Pro-am symposium on what amateurs can do and are doing in the way of science from their backyards.

I have been to a couple and can highly recomend both the symposium and the preceeding workshops.

http://www.socastrosci.org/Files/symposium.htm

Cheers

Maurice

Hi Alex,

Wish I had known about this earlier. Looks like an interesting program. Do you know if any of the presentations will be available after the meeting?

Cheers,

Maurice

Rod Kaufman said:

Texas has raised its speed limit in some areas to 85MPH. That will increase road safety, increase gas mileage and decrease wear and tear on their cars as well as teach their young'uns a thing or two about the rules of the road, don't you think?
Not only that, but now they can have more buffalo burgers with all that livestock they're going to peel off the windshields. Beef, er ah I mean road kill, it's what's for dinner!

G'Day Rod,

Especially as they are also doing away with the 65mph nighttime limit! Not that it will make much difference anyway. Around here the posted limit seems to mean the minimum speed!

Cheers,

Maurice

Hi Floyd,

Very nice image. Just one minor nitpick though. The 3rd largest galaxy in the sky? What about the LMC and SMC?

Cheers,

Maurice

Same image as above, but processed with the HST palette. Still too much green. :-(

Hi Jeff,

You might also try your local university. Someone in their astronomy department might be able to help you.

Cheers

Maurice

29 correct. OK for a "furriner" I guess.

Cheers

Maurice

Darian Rachal said:

Do Jews baptize? I was wondering because of the story of John baptizing Jesus and others in the Jordon River.

Hi Darian,

Baptisim was widely recognised by the Jews as a rite for non-jews who wished to become members of the Jewish faith. Some Jewish sects also practiced baptism on a wider scale. For example, the Essenes practised daily baptism. When John was baptising and the Jewish leaders sent a delegation to him, they never questioned the baptism, only by what authority he did so. So the rite was widely known.

I am not so sure about modern-day Jews, but I do not think they do. I will have to ask one of my Jewish students.

Regards

Maurice

Hi Rob,

Interesting thread. I would suggest that while on the ouside most Christian denominations look the same, to really see the differences you would have to take a close look at what they teach and compare what they teach with what the Bible teaches. For example, Jehovah's Witness' believe that no one who lived before the cross will go to heaven, 7th Day Adventist believe that Jesus will come the second time at the end of the time of trouble, and take the saved back to heaven where they will be for 1000 years before returning to a re-made Earth, Baptists believe in baptism by full emersion, Roman Catholics believe that tradition is more important than the Bible, Mormans believe that there are 3 more books of writings and that the accuracy of the Bible is to be judged by how closely it follows these other writings, and so on.

They cannot all be correct. So to use your analogy, the only way to find out is to get in a try them.

Cheers,

Maurice

PS: You can tell that classes start today.... I am busy on here instead of getting ready for lectures! AAARRRGGGGGGGGGG