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  #1801 (permalink)  
Old 14-June-2006, 02:37 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Eroica
Well, the ship will move 100 metres in the time it takes the light to go from its nose to the targeting device and back, so the beam will be reflected by the stern of the ship (or will it just miss?).
Yep! [I later added a little distance to get the beam past the aft end.]

This example points out the "now" issue, since the spaceship is never where they "see" it; the time for the beam to reach the ship is only half the story. I wanted to use vision of the ship, in lieu of a beacon, but then the ship's length would be obvious (since the distance was known).

All yours Eroica.
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Lighten up! This is a stellar board! Author: duh.

"The Sun, with all the planets revolving around it, and depending on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as though it had nothing else in the universe to do..." Author: Galileo supposedly.
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Old 14-June-2006, 05:22 PM
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Darn. I was just going to write that the airplane gets to Chicago at 3:45 AM, not PM, because you have to remember the International Date Line.
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  #1803 (permalink)  
Old 15-June-2006, 04:01 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by George
All yours Eroica.


We all know that Mira (Omicron Ceti) was the first Mira-type variable to be discovered. What were the next three?

(Bloomsday tomorrow - I may not be around)
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Old 16-June-2006, 01:27 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by George
Yep! [I later added a little distance to get the beam past the aft end.]

This example points out the "now" issue, since the spaceship is never where they "see" it; the time for the beam to reach the ship is only half the story. I wanted to use vision of the ship, in lieu of a beacon, but then the ship's length would be obvious (since the distance was known).

All yours Eroica.

Just a quick one? The Booleaners will see where the ship was. They can only aim where it appeared when they received it's signal. So, by the time they shoot the laser the ship has already moved it's own length - then the laser arrives 1 full length behind the ship right?
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Old 16-June-2006, 02:20 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by crosscountry
Just a quick one? The Booleaners will see where the ship was. They can only aim where it appeared when they received it's signal. So, by the time they shoot the laser the ship has already moved it's own length - then the laser arrives 1 full length behind the ship right?
Yes, that is it. [Edit.Oops, not, see below] It is meant to serve as an example for where things really are out there. This ship was very close (1000 km) and moving relatively slow. Imagine trying to hit an object near the galactic center.

This is also counter intuitive to normal firing circumstances. Riffles and shotguns are aimed ahead of moving objects based only on bullet time to object (ignoring light's speed).

Of course, I really did not expect BAUTers to stumble with this, but I thought it might be of some interest (and I kinda missed those Booleans, too).

[Edit: OOPS, sorry Crosscountry, I misread your post. Check your math. The ship will always appear only 1/2 its length behind actual position, assuming the Booleans could see it.]
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Lighten up! This is a stellar board! Author: duh.

"The Sun, with all the planets revolving around it, and depending on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as though it had nothing else in the universe to do..." Author: Galileo supposedly.
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Old 16-June-2006, 02:56 PM
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We didn't really stumble.
I at least expected more intelligence from the booleans and thought the real question was whether a beam reflected back in the direction it came from, as seen by the moving ship, would actually come back in the original direction, which Eroica answered.
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Old 16-June-2006, 04:41 PM
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Quote:
We all know that Mira (Omicron Ceti) was the first Mira-type variable to be discovered. What were the next three?
C Cygni
R Hydrae
R Leonis

?
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  #1808 (permalink)  
Old 16-June-2006, 07:00 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HenrikOlsen
We didn't really stumble.
I at least expected more intelligence from the booleans and thought the real question was whether a beam reflected back in the direction it came from, as seen by the moving ship, would actually come back in the original direction, which Eroica answered.
Ah yes, that explains Eroica's post. 180 degree reflection was the simple intent for that statement, else the Booleans might not see their beam even if it did hit the ship. Fortunately, since the beam never hits the prisms, we don't have to answer the question I didn't ask. [This question was not meant to be hard since Ken's Booleans question is about 300 posts long, and still going. ]

Here was the "non-calculator" approach to it, fwiw.
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Lighten up! This is a stellar board! Author: duh.

"The Sun, with all the planets revolving around it, and depending on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as though it had nothing else in the universe to do..." Author: Galileo supposedly.
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Old 17-June-2006, 10:51 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mike alexander
C Cygni
R Hydrae
R Leonis

?
Correct!

Just to avoid confusion, my source calls the first c Cygni (lowercase c) or Chi Cygni. It was identified as a variable star by Gottfried Kirch of Berlin in 1686 or 1687.

Maraldi discovered R Hydrae's variability in 1704.

R Leonis was discovered by J. A. Koch at Danzig in 1782.
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Old 17-June-2006, 11:22 AM
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When I checked in at the AAVSO site, I saw that and made the (incorrect) assumption that someone had entered the letter incorrectly. It would be better to stick in the Greek character.

Let's see... it's Saturday and the Sun isn't up yet, so something simple...that I can remember...

Quote:
What's the speed of the primary mirror on the Palomar telescope?
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Old 18-June-2006, 09:09 PM
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Originally Posted by mike alexander
What's the speed of the primary mirror on the Palomar telescope?
I take it you are talking about the 200" Hale reflector.

The prime focus is at 660" (f/3.3), the secondary (Coudé) focus at 6000" (f/30). Here is a well-known architectural drawing
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Old 19-June-2006, 08:19 AM
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Default Re: The ULTIMATE astronomy quiz

Quote:
Originally Posted by George
You won't need a calculator.

[Hint added: In response to Eroica, the question is really whether or not the beam will indeed hit the ship. Will it?]
What's the color of the star(s) in this particular planetary system?
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  #1813 (permalink)  
Old 19-June-2006, 03:25 PM
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Arneb is correct about the Hale telescope. The picture he posted was by Russel Porter, who did a series of drawings for the instrument which may be, overall, the best engineering drawings ever made.

Your turn, Arneb.
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  #1814 (permalink)  
Old 19-June-2006, 09:49 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Maksutov
What's the color of the star(s) in this particular planetary system?
. Too tough to tell; stellarchromology is incipient and must wait upon its prerequisite - heliochromology.

Besides, ever since that anthroplogist visited the Booleans, they altered their vision to see only green. [So there are green stars, now]
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Lighten up! This is a stellar board! Author: duh.

"The Sun, with all the planets revolving around it, and depending on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as though it had nothing else in the universe to do..." Author: Galileo supposedly.
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  #1815 (permalink)  
Old 20-June-2006, 10:23 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mike alexander
Arneb is correct about the Hale telescope. The picture he posted was by Russel Porter, who did a series of drawings for the instrument which may be, overall, the best engineering drawings ever made.

Your turn, Arneb.
Thanks, mike.

This friendly chap was immortalized in the sky twice - in antiquity and in modern times. Who is he?
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  #1816 (permalink)  
Old 20-June-2006, 12:51 PM
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Is the friendly fellow human?

Apollo (Helios) was the god of the Sun and he certainly got around, if you know what I mean.

In modern times, Apollo refers to a class of asteroids, the first of which, 1862 Apollo, was discovered in 1932.

I know this is a rather lame response but it's the best I can do at the moment.

Dave Mitsky
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  #1817 (permalink)  
Old 20-June-2006, 04:05 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Mitsky
Is the friendly fellow human?
I'd rather leave that open for the moment. The adjective, however, is of some significance.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Mitsky
Apollo (Helios) was the god of the Sun and he certainly got around, if you know what I mean.

In modern times, Apollo refers to a class of asteroids, the first of which, 1862 Apollo, was discovered in 1932.
Not the solution I had in mind.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Mitsky
I know this is a rather lame response but it's the best I can do at the moment.

Dave Mitsky
I don't think it's lame at all.
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  #1818 (permalink)  
Old 20-June-2006, 04:40 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mike alexander
Arneb is correct about the Hale telescope. The picture he posted was by Russel Porter, who did a series of drawings for the instrument which may be, overall, the best engineering drawings ever made.
That is an impressive drawing - practical and elegant.
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  #1819 (permalink)  
Old 20-June-2006, 04:46 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Arneb
This friendly chap was immortalized in the sky twice - in antiquity and in modern times. Who is he?
Hermes, as in the planet Mercury and the asteroid?
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