SANParks.org Forums |
| Moderator: RosemaryH |
| Previous topic | First unread post | Next topic Page 55 of 57 [ 852 posts ] Go to page Previous 1 ... 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57 Next |
| Post new topic | Post a reply |
| Print view |
| BEGINNERS' STARGAZING QUIZ (QM) |
|---|
 onewithnatureDistinguished Virtual Ranger Joined: Tue Dec 23, 2008 5:22 am Posts: 19081 Location: Midway between the infinite and the infinitesimal! 
|
Tue Dec 27, 2011 8:29 am  |
|
H. erectus wrote Ok, had enough, will now attempt to demolish the great wall 'o China using me forehead!!!   Why not just walk through it like David Copperfield? |
| Last post |
| Re: BEGINNERS' STARGAZING QUIZ (QM) |
|
onewithnature Distinguished Virtual Ranger Joined: Tue Dec 23, 2008 5:22 am Posts: 19081 Location: Midway between the infinite and the infinitesimal!
|
| Tue Dec 27, 2011 8:35 am |
|
JenB wrote I certainly hope I'll still be around on the Nov 25th 2030. Experiencing a total solar eclipse is such a spiritual experience, makes you realize how small and helpless we really are. That bit of instinctive panic you feel although your mind tells you that all will be fine and that the sun will be out soon again. If I ever win the lotto, I'll become an eclipse chaser for sure! I agree, Jen - I'd also become an eclipse chaser; although, looking at the coming few years, there are actually very few decent total solar eclipses that will make landfall in inhabited regions.  As to being here in Nov 2030, I have no doubts there as you're not even a third of the way through your life right now!  I assume you did see the total eclipse of 4th Dec 2002 in northern SA? Gosh, that was incredible! Yes, when the sun becomes increasingly masked, the hairs begin to stand on end. And, as the sun darkens entirely, I could fully understand how some people faint, or go into a religious fervour, or just become totally silent in awe. It was the most amazing two-and-a-bit minutes of totality, but a time I will never forget. |
| Re: BEGINNERS' STARGAZING QUIZ (QM) |
|
JenB Moderator Joined: Sun Oct 07, 2007 1:41 pm Posts: 17365 Location: Johannesburg - where they cut down trees and name streets after them.
|
| Tue Dec 27, 2011 9:35 am |
|
Ditto OWN, I did. We left home at 1:30 am and drove Northwards. Close to the border post we parked the car and walked far into the veld. It was an overcast morning but just as it happened, the clouds parted and we saw all of the eclipse. 12 Hours later we were home again. I will travel anywhere to see such an amazing sight again. One of natures miracles, total, total magic!!
|
| Re: BEGINNERS' STARGAZING QUIZ (QM) |
|
ecojunkie Legendary Virtual Ranger Joined: Sat Oct 06, 2007 7:05 am Posts: 6415 Location: Back home - a caravan in Malelane Camp, KNP
|
| Tue Dec 27, 2011 10:12 am |
|
I was in Cornwall during the Eclipse - even the seagulls were quiet for a minute or two!
|
| Re: BEGINNERS' STARGAZING QUIZ (QM) |
|
onewithnature Distinguished Virtual Ranger Joined: Tue Dec 23, 2008 5:22 am Posts: 19081 Location: Midway between the infinite and the infinitesimal!
|
| Wed Jul 11, 2012 5:04 pm |
|
Okay, this quiz went dormant so long that it felt like the Universe stopped expanding.
To get your necks into upper-whiplash mode again - i.e. staring upwards after the closest star sets - let me post another star-gazing question (and I'll keep it both simple and interesting, in the tradition of this quiz) ... |
| Re: BEGINNERS' STARGAZING QUIZ (QM) |
|
ecojunkie Legendary Virtual Ranger Joined: Sat Oct 06, 2007 7:05 am Posts: 6415 Location: Back home - a caravan in Malelane Camp, KNP
|
| Wed Jul 11, 2012 5:14 pm |
 |
| Re: BEGINNERS' STARGAZING QUIZ (QM) |
|
onewithnature Distinguished Virtual Ranger Joined: Tue Dec 23, 2008 5:22 am Posts: 19081 Location: Midway between the infinite and the infinitesimal!
|
| Thu Jul 12, 2012 1:40 am |
|
Okay, here's an interesting Q:
Why do Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn move along a path that eventually forms a giant circle over the whole sky, while Mercury and Venus only rise to a limited extent above the horizon, always sinking back again over a few weeks? |
| Re: BEGINNERS' STARGAZING QUIZ (QM) |
|
ecojunkie Legendary Virtual Ranger Joined: Sat Oct 06, 2007 7:05 am Posts: 6415 Location: Back home - a caravan in Malelane Camp, KNP
|
| Thu Jul 12, 2012 7:08 am |
|
Something to do with the fact that Mercury and Venus are closer to the sun than we are......and have shorter years????
|
| Re: BEGINNERS' STARGAZING QUIZ (QM) |
|
onewithnature Distinguished Virtual Ranger Joined: Tue Dec 23, 2008 5:22 am Posts: 19081 Location: Midway between the infinite and the infinitesimal!
|
| Thu Jul 12, 2012 7:40 am |
|
Yes, you're on the right track, EJ, but why exactly do we see the outer planets differently to the inner?
|
| Re: BEGINNERS' STARGAZING QUIZ (QM) |
|
ecojunkie Legendary Virtual Ranger Joined: Sat Oct 06, 2007 7:05 am Posts: 6415 Location: Back home - a caravan in Malelane Camp, KNP
|
| Thu Jul 12, 2012 7:54 am |
|
Maybe also our rotational speed has relative to the orbital speed has something to do with it too? I am guessing here!
|
| Re: BEGINNERS' STARGAZING QUIZ (QM) |
|
onewithnature Distinguished Virtual Ranger Joined: Tue Dec 23, 2008 5:22 am Posts: 19081 Location: Midway between the infinite and the infinitesimal!
|
| Thu Jul 12, 2012 8:17 am |
 Let's see if there are any others intrepid enough to attempt it. |
| Re: BEGINNERS' STARGAZING QUIZ (QM) |
|
onewithnature Distinguished Virtual Ranger Joined: Tue Dec 23, 2008 5:22 am Posts: 19081 Location: Midway between the infinite and the infinitesimal!
|
| Sun Jul 15, 2012 5:08 pm |
|
Anyone have an idea, other than EJ?
|
| Re: BEGINNERS' STARGAZING QUIZ (QM) |
|
Imberbe Senior Virtual Ranger Joined: Wed Aug 31, 2005 12:28 am Posts: 14344 Location: Pretoria, RSA
|
| Sun Jul 15, 2012 7:16 pm |
|
A laymens answer ....
Mercurius and Venus are much closer to the Sun than the other planets mentioned. They will in fact move across the sky in a similar way to the other planets closley following the sun. But not being visible during our day time because of the light of the sun, and even often being "behind" the sun from our perspective, we won't be able to see them. They are only visible shortly after sunset and shortly before sunrise when the sun light does not shield them from view. And being close to the sun, this will always be rather low on our horison at these times. When they follow their orbit around the sun, and start moving in "behind" the sun from our perspective, it will appear to us as if they are sinking below the horison until they disappear. |
| Re: BEGINNERS' STARGAZING QUIZ (QM) |
|
onewithnature Distinguished Virtual Ranger Joined: Tue Dec 23, 2008 5:22 am Posts: 19081 Location: Midway between the infinite and the infinitesimal!
|
| Mon Jul 16, 2012 12:00 am |
I think we can upgrade you from layman's status, IB.  Indeed correct about the inner planets. Now, why would the outer planets behave completely differently in the sky? |
| Re: BEGINNERS' STARGAZING QUIZ (QM) |
|
Wildlover Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:03 pm Posts: 352 Location: Vrikin stad ek haat dit!!!!! wil weer trug Nelies toe gaan!!!!
|
| Wed Jul 18, 2012 7:47 pm |
|
Because thay take longer to rotate around the sun than the other planets?????
|
| Top |
| Post new topic | Post a reply |
|
Go to page Previous 1 ... 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57 Next Page 55 of 57 [ 852 posts ] Previous topic | First unread post | Next topic |
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests |
| Board index » The Ranger Post » Quizzes |