On the Shoulders of Giants discussion

Discuss on astronomy and share your questions

What r ur fav constellations?

virgo, yours?

Idk lol i like the Orian one

Marie, a question for you-
How do we know the mass of the earth?

Idk... do we know the mass of the earth??

Okay-

Circumference of earth: 40075.017 km
Mass of earth: 5.97237×10^24 kg
Age of earth: ~4.5 billion years

How do we get the numbers?
just a food for thought.

Wow

You have to take into account the density of each of the levels of earth as well as everything on the crust too

Sara wrote: "You have to take into account the density of each of the levels of earth as well as everything on the crust too"

This is a good solution, but first you need to know the values-
1) the density of different layers. ( which isn't impossible)
2) the volume of different layers. ( which I think next to impossible, cause you can't measure it exactly)

I think it is interesting that we speak of astronomical events as occurring in real time (now), when in reality they have occurred between thousands and millions or even billions of years in the past. If we ever discover evidence of intelligent life out in the vastness of space, whether through radio signals, spectrography or other means, what are the chances that said intelligent life still exists?

Following up from my last post, I have questions about time itself. Because we as humans live in a linear fashion from birth to dust and have the capacity for self awareness while having the ability to communicate with one another, does time (in the linear sense) actually exist? Is time just an abstract process that we as a species have invented because we have memory, thought, and emotion and does it even really have serve a purpose in the grand infinite scheme of things as defined by the esoteric or exoteric? What meaning(s) can time have for species that are unaware?

Sean Sparks wrote: "I think it is interesting that we speak of astronomical events as occurring in real time (now), when in reality they have occurred between thousands and millions or even billions of years in the pa..."

Considering the mechanism of evolution, I think the chances are much lower.

I agree with your assessment. Given a reverse perspective, by the time extraterrestrials are even aware of our presence, we will likely not be here to welcome or even oppose a visit! :)

Sean Sparks wrote: "I agree with your assessment. Given a reverse perspective, by the time extraterrestrials are even aware of our presence, we will likely not be here to welcome or even oppose a visit! :)"

True, it's so sad. :)

Sean Sparks wrote: "I agree with your assessment. Given a reverse perspective, by the time extraterrestrials are even aware of our presence, we will likely not be here to welcome or even oppose a visit! :)"

Have you ever been NASA?

When I was about 12 years old, I visited NASA’s Mission Control in Houston, Texas. They had a number of cool displays, but the thing that I remember the most was the control room was much smaller than it appeared on the television or movies! LOL!

Alas, I haven’t ever been in the organization of NASA, I’m just a curious soul that reads as my interests take me. For a number of years I wouldn’t read any fiction as I felt it had nothing to teach me. In recent years I have changed my perception on fiction as I realized that fiction gives you glimpses of another’s perspectives and life experiences and unlock more of the mystery of the human psyche. So even now, I sometimes have to force myself to read fiction, although I must admit, I enjoy the connection with the writer’s mind and characters.

I entirely agree with you.
But sometimes the non-fictions aren't engaging enough like fictions.

Non fictions make me sleepy...

bernadette;) wrote: "Non fictions make me sleepy..."

True, that's why I said that nonfictions are not as engaging as fictions.

But if you need to know something, you can't avoid the nonfiction.
( Hey, That means you can read a nonfiction when you can't sleep at night)

Haha yeaa, especially history books