Space & Astronomy/Space and Astronomy (October 1993).iso/pc/text/spacedig/v09_4/v9_474.txt

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Subject: SPACE Digest V9 #474

SPACE Digest                                      Volume 9 : Issue 474

Today's Topics:
   CRESCENT SIGHTING - Sun 4 June 1989, Orbital details etc. (Long)
         Re: Venus & the Greenhouse effect..
            Re: Amazon Forest Destruction
          Aldrin & McConnell's MEN ON EARTH
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Sat, 3 Jun 1989 15:01:28 EDT
From: Mohib N Durrani <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Cc: [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]
Subject: CRESCENT SIGHTING - Sun 4 June 1989, Orbital details etc. (Long)


                       Bismillah hir-Rahman nir-Rahim
  ( I begin with the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful )

         THE MUSLIM STUDENTS' ASSOCIATION (MSA) of COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
           102 Earl Hall, Columbia University, NEW YORK, N.Y. 10027

         SUBJECT: CRESCENT MOON: FIRST VISIBILITY (every lunar month)
        **************************************************************

            NEXT CRESCENT (NEW) MOON:  Sun  4 JUNE 1989  (*)

              for the 11th. Islamic Month of ZUL-QA'DA, 1409,
      the month starting on Mon  5 June 1989, for USA and S.America,
           possibly from points west of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and
            on Tue  6  June 1989, for all points West of Hawaii,
            till the places of first sighting of Sun  4 June.

           It is IMPOSSIBLE for the Crescent Moon to be visible
                     on  Sat  3 June 1989, worldwide.

   (*)      Hilal (crescent) sightings would be in the evenings,
        at least 10 minutes after sunset, usually before 20 minutes,
   and upto 40 to 90 minutes after sunset; near and along the sun's path.

        We are conducting research/survey on the recorded WORLD-WIDE
          first sightings of the "CRESCENT MOON, FIRST VISIBILITY"
                  in the evenings, for every lunar month.
                    Some TECHNICAL INFO. is at the end.

                  PHOTOGRAPHS / SLIDES ARE MOST WELCOME
               since they are very helpful in the research.

              Please also pass on the request to your friends
               who are interested in astronomy/physics and to
                 your local amateur astronomy associations.

                  We would very much like to hear from you.
                Please respond either by email or by letter.

       The survey results are to enhance the present ATMOSPHERIC MODEL
          and fine tune some parameters regarding SCATTERING/VISION.


  When reporting actual Crescent-Hilal sightings, (even if you do not see it)
                        PLEASE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

HILAL was visible to naked eye?......... Hilal sighted in binoculars?.........
EXACT TIMES: Complete Sunset at......... Hilal First Visible....... End.......
HEIGHT-Degrees: Hilal highest........... Hilal lowest (faded/set).............
ORIENTATION: Ends of Hilal Curve:  Start at.......'O Clock:End at.....'O Clock
(Right is 3'O Clock:Bottom is 6'O Clock: Left is 9'O Clock:  Top is 12'O Clock)
WEATHER condition: Rel.Humidity......... Temperature..... Pressure............
Sky near western horizon: Clear?........ Hazy?........... Cloudy?.............
OBSERVER: Age.... Eyesight: Glasses?.... Far sighted?.... Near sighted?.......
Name....................... Date........ Location.............................

                                 Thanks.

        Email to:  [e-mail] (Mohib.N.Durrani)

        Mail:      Dr.Mohib.N.Durrani
                   Islamic Amateur Astronomers Association
                   (Research Division)
                   601 West 113 Street, Suite 11-K
                   Columbia University
                   NEW YORK, N.Y. 10025
                   United States of America


        Some ORBITAL details for the SUN and MOON:

        Lunation No.: 822
        NEW MOON (not crescent visible moon):
        1989 June  3d 19h 53m UT (Universal Time)
       (Universal Time, i.e. mean solar time on the meridian of Greenwich)

          EQUATORIAL coords.(for 0h UT)         ECLIPTIC coords.(for 0h UT)
   Date   Sun      Sun      MOON    MOON        Sun        MOON      MOON
   JUNE   R.A.     Decl.    R.A.    Decl.       Long.      Long.     Lat.
   '89    Alpha    Delta    Alpha   Delta       Lambda     Lambda    Beta
          hr       deg      hr      deg         deg        deg       deg

    3 Sa   4.74    22.30     3.87   25.33        72.55      61.33    5.01
    4 Su   4.81    22.39     4.93   27.46        73.51      75.80    4.81
    5 Mo   4.88    22.48     6.00   27.75        74.47      89.97    4.31


       1989 JUNE  4 (Sun)  (event times are the approximate
                                  local mean times)
      (nearest)    (+N,-S) (W)     SUN     MOON   at Sunset
        CITY          LAT  LONG    SET     SET    AGE-MOON   SIGHTING
      *************   deg  deg     h  m    h  m     h  m    **********

        MECCA-S.Arabia 20  320    18 36   19 31    20 03    MOST PROBABLE
        MOSCOW - USSR  56  320    20 38   22 17    22 05    MOST PROBABLE
        CAIRO - Egypt  30  330    18 57   20 01    21 04    MOST PROBABLE
        ISTANBUL-Turk  40  330    19 25   20 37    21 32    MOST PROBABLE
        CAPETOWN-S.Af -35  340    16 56   17 18    19 43    PROBABLE
        LAGOS-Nigeria  10  355    18 18   19 14    22 05    MOST PROBABLE

      % GREENWICH-Engl 50    0    20 03   21 34    24 10    MOST PROBABLE

        DAKAR-Senegal  10   20    18 18   19 18    23 45    MOST PROBABLE
        RIO DeJENEIRO -20   45    17 28   18 14    24 35    MOST PROBABLE
        PARAMARIBO-Suri 0   55    18 02   19 01    25 49    VISIBLE
        BUNOS ARESarg -35   60    16 56   17 32    25 03    MOST PROBABLE
        LIMA-Peru S.A -10   80    17 45   18 44    27 12    VISIBLE

      % (add 1 hr to event time, for summer DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME,
                  from early April to end of October)

                 For most of these cities (Mecca-Paramaribo)
              the Cresent may be VISIBLE on  Sun  5 June 1989,
  hence the New Islamic Month of Zul Qa'da may start from  Mon  6 June 1989.

       1989 JUNE 4 (Sun)   (event times are the approximate
                                  local mean times)
      (nearest)    (+N,-S) (W)     SUN     MOON   at Sunset
        CITY          LAT  LONG    SET     SET    AGE-MOON   SIGHTING
      *************   deg  deg     h  m    h  m     h  m    **********

      % HALIFAX -CNDA  44   65    19 38   21 09    28 05    VISIBLE
      % NEW YORK -USA  40   75    19 25   20 53    28 32    VISIBLE
      % JACKSONVIL-Fl  30   80    18 57   20 19    28 24    VISIBLE
      % SAN DIEGO-USA  35  115    19 10   20 41    30 57    VISIBLE
      % SAN FRANCISCO  40  120    19 25   21 00    31 32    VISIBLE
      % VANCOUVER-CND  50  125    20 03   21 51    32 30    VISIBLE

      % ANCHORAGE-Als  62  150    21 36    0 28    35 43    VISIBLE
      % HONOLULU -Hwi  20  160    18 36   20 04    33 23    VISIBLE

      % (add 1 hr to event time, for summer DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME,
                  from early April to end of October)

              When the CRESCENT is visible on Sun  4 JUNE 1989
      anywhere from Halifax, New York, Maimi, San Diego, San Francisco,
       to Vancouver, then in the USA-CANADA the next Islamic month of
                    Zul Qa'da starts on Mon  5 JUNE 1989.


               (INCREASE   date one day, if crossing   EAST TO WEST)
  ######################    INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE    ######################
               (DECREASE   date one day, if crossing   WEST TO EAST)


       1989 JUNE 4 (Sun)   (event times are the approximate
                                  local mean times)
      (nearest)    (+N,-S) (W)     SUN     MOON   at Sunset
        CITY          LAT  LONG    SET     SET    AGE-MOON   SIGHTING
      *************   deg  deg     h  m    h  m     h  m    **********

        SIDNEY-Austra -35  210    16 56   16 56    11 03    IMPOSSIBLE
        TOKYO - Japan  35  220    19 10   19 57    13 57    DIFFICULT
        PEKING -China  40  245    19 25   20 21    15 52    PROBABLE
        JAKARTA-Indon -10  250    17 45   18 11    14 32    DIFFICULT
        DACCA -B.Desh  20  270    18 36   19 22    16 43    PROBABLE
        AGRA  - India  30  280    18 57   19 52    17 44    PROBABLE
        PESHAWAR -Pak  35  290    19 10   20 10    18 37    PROBABLE
        BUKHARA -USSR  40  295    19 25   20 30    19 12    PROBABLE
        TEHRAN - Iran  35  310    19 10   20 14    19 57    PROBABLE

                  For some of these cities (Sidney-Tehran)
              the Cresent may be VISIBLE on  Sun  4 June 1989,
   hence the New Lunar Month of Zul Qa'da may start on Mon  5 June 1989.

    Please note that the Islamic dates start from sundown of a previous day.


  ISLAMIC GREGORIAN  MOON - MOON - MOON - MOON - MOON        SUN - EARTH
   YEAR     YEAR  (All times are in UT = Universal Time)
   MONTHS   LUNA.   NEW MOON   MOON-PERIGEE MOON-APOGEE      SUN/EARTH
             NO.  (NOT visible)  (nearest)  (farthest)
                       d  h  m        d  h        d  h         d  h
   1409     1989
  5 JUMA-I   817  JAN  7 19 22   JAN 10 23   JAN 27 00    JAN  1 22 Perihelion
  6 JUMA-II  818  FEB  6 07 37   FEB  7 22   FEB 23 14
  7 RAJAB    819  MAR  7 18 19   MAR  8 08   MAR 22 18    MAR 20 15 Equinox
  8 SHABAN   820  APR  6 03 33   APR  5 20   APR 18 21
  9 RAMADAN  821  MAY  5 11 46   MAY  4 05   MAY 16 09
 10 SHAWWAL  822  JUN  3 19 53   JUN  1 05   JUN 13 02    JUN 21 10 Solstice
*11 QADAH    823  JUL  3 04 59   JUN 28 04   JUL 10 21    JUL  4 12 Aphelion
 12 HAJJ     824  AUG  1 16 06   JUL 23 07   AUG  7 15

   1410
  1 MUHARAM  825  AUG 31 05 44   AUG 19 12   SEP  4 08    SEP 23 01 Equinox
  2 SAFR     826  SEP 29 21 47   SEP 16 15   OCT  1 20
  3 RABI-I   827  OCT 29 15 27   OCT 15 01   OCT 28 22
  4 RABI-II  828  NOV 28 09 41   NOV 12 13   NOV 25 04
  5 JUMA-I   829  DEC 28 03 20   DEC 10 23   DEC 22 19    DEC 21 21 Solstice

    Perihelion = Earth Closest to Sun      (Sun  moving FASTEST in sky-Jan  1)
    Equinox    = Earth has Equal Daylight and Darkness      (Mar 20 & Sept 23)
    Solstice   = Sun   apparantly Stationary in Declination
                       (Maximum of Summer-June 21 OR Minimum of Winter-Dec 21)
    Aphelion   = Earth Farthest from Sun   (Sun  moving SLOWEST in sky-Jul  4)
    Perigee    = Moon  Closest to Earth    (Moon moving FASTEST in sky)
    Apogee     = Moon  Farthest from Earth (Moon moving SLOWEST in sky)

 ****************************************************************************
 ****************************************************************************

      APPROXIMATIONS TO DIRECTION OF KA'BA (MECCA Saudi Arabia)

    In most places of the UNITED STATES of AMERICA, an approximation
    to the direction of KA'BA, to determine the direction of Salat
    (prayers), can be obtained by noting the direction of your shadow
    near the time of sunset.  The direction in which your shadow goes
    is usually a little north of east.  This is the direction in which
    salat can be performed, as an approximation.  This direction changes
    during the different months of the year but is a good approximation
    when there is no magnetic compass to determine the exact direction.

 ****************************************************************************

    Copyright Dr.M.N.Durrani, 1989
    Permission to copy for free distribution is granted to all,
    please do give credit and reference. Thanks

     For further information, please feel free to contact:

        Mail:      Dr.Mohib.N.Durrani
                   Islamic Amateur Astronomers Association
                   (Research Division)
                   601 West 113 Street, Suite 11-K
                   Columbia University
                   NEW YORK, N.Y. 10025
                   United States of America

        Email to:  [e-mail] (Mohib.N.Durrani)


 ***************************** End of Document ******************************

------------------------------

Date: 3 Jun 89 20:44:57 GMT
From: bucsb![e-mail]  (Christopher Davis)
Subject: Re: Venus & the Greenhouse effect..

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Kelly St.Clair) writes:
- > [Is there any reason that Venus could not be cooled and terraformed?]
-
- Is there any reason (besides needing space so that we can keep breeding like
- flies)s) that we should?

Let's see... ever read a book called _Lucifer's Hammer_?  It's about what
might happen if a large comet struck the earth.  [It's not exactly paradise.]
I believe the proverb "Don't keep all your eggs in one basket" applies.

- Most important of all:
- Is there anything that gives us the *RIGHT* to remake another world in our
- own image?

Good question.  What gives us the right to do anything?  What gives me the
right to use electricity to read, say, rec.humor, instead of using it to
light mud huts in Africa?

- (Old discussion, I know, but I thought it should be said...)

Old, perhaps.  Interesting, still.  (IMHO.)
--
Chris Davis         ! ckd@{bu-pub,bucsb,bucsf}.bu.edu ! Disclaimer: you know.
Student Consultant  ! smghy6c@buacca.{bitnet, bu.edu} ! I don't agree with BU
Boston University   !          [e-mail]         ! and they reciprocate.
  -- "I think I need a really good quote to put in my .signature." CKD --

------------------------------

Date: 1 Jun 89 12:09:16 GMT
From: mcvax!ukc!reading!cf-cm!cybaswan![e-mail]  (Steve Hosgood)
Subject: Re: Amazon Forest Destruction

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Michael Starr) writes:
>Has space photos of the depleted ozone layer over Antartica stopped
>the "civilized" population of the planet from recharging their
>car air conditioners with Freon?
>

We don't have that many car air conditioners over here - at 51 degrees North
you don't often need them! We do of course have fridges, aerosol cans etc etc.
I've been *most* surprised at the speed of the reaction from the average
guy on the street in Britain (and I think the rest of Europe's doing the same
sort of thing) concerning ozone.

Sales of aerosol cans fell through the floor when the ozone-hole thing got into
the headlines in the winter. Now, only a few months later you see labels
claiming 'ozone friendly' on all sorts of products that contain anything that
resembles a solvent. Car wax, shoe shine wax, aerosols, paint - you name it!

Joe Public is forcing a *big* change in things here. Even the traditionally
hard-nosed government we've got here at the moment has done some spectacular
U-turns on certain things recently.

>If we want to stop the destruction in a country which probably
>suffers from the worse economy on earth we have to do it by
>giving the Brazilians an economic alternative.  In other words,
>the price will have to come out of all of our pockets if we
>want to maintain a resource which affects the whole planet.
>

That's fair enough. "Our" money (i.e. World Bank's) put the roads into the
forest, I suppose "our" money ought to be used to fix the problem, but how?
On the whole, money can't buy such solutions.

Steve

------------------------------

Date: 3 Jun 89 21:58:09 GMT
From: bfmny0![e-mail]  (Tom Neff)
Subject: Aldrin & McConnell's MEN ON EARTH

RRR (recently read & recommended) Dept.:

MEN FROM EARTH, by Buzz Aldrin and Malcom McConnell (Bantam 1989).
312pp. with index. ISBN 0-553-05374-4; Lib. Cong. number TL789.8.U6A49
(that's a Cataloging In Publication [CIP] number, which sometimes
changes when libraries stock it). About $19 in hardcover now, I
wouldn't expect softcover for another 9-12 mos.

In brief - a must for your space library. Aldrin was an early exemplar
of the scientist/engineer astronaut as opposed to the Gordo Cooper
"right stuff" test pilot model. His doctoral work at MIT on orbital
rendezvous laid important groundwork for Apollo even before he became
an astronaut. MEN FROM EARTH covers the space race from Peenemunde to
Tranquillity Base comprehensively and with *no* wasted motion.
Obviously the central attraction is Aldrin's account of Apollo 11
itself. But there is much valuable stuff on Mercury, Gemini and also
the competing Soviet effort. Aldrin draws on Oberg and other recent
Western accounts of Soviet space history for this side, but also on
declassified Soviet stuff and interviews with Soviet scientists. What
really excites is the juxtaposition in time, switching from Houston to
Tyuratam to the White House as events progress. The sense of a *race*
is completely convincing here.

A word on McConnell - this is not just a dumb ghost writer playing the
"as told to" game with a tongue tied celeb. He is a "name" in his own
right -- his CHALLENGER: A MAJOR MALFUNCTION has pride of place on my
shelf next to Henry SF Cooper's THIRTEEN: THE FLIGHT THAT FAILED as a
definitive account of US space crises. The fusion of his talent with
Aldrin's knowledge has yielded an amazingly crisp book.

--- Table of Contents ---

Prologue: LUNAR MODULE EAGLE

Introduction: CAPE CANAVERAL

Chapter One: THE RACE BEGINS

Chapter Two: KRUSHCHEV'S GAMBIT, AMERICA'S RESPONSE

Chapter Three: "LEAD-FOOTED MERCURY"

Chapter Four: KENNEDY'S CHALLENGE

Chapter Five: SKIRMISHES

Chapter Six: STRATEGY

Chapter Seven: VOSHKOD VERSUS GEMINI

Chapter Eight: GEMINI TRIUMPHANT

Chapter Nine: YEAR OF DISASTERS

Chapter Ten: APOLLO RECOVERS

Chapter Eleven: APOLLO TRIUMPHANT

Chapter Twelve: THE LAST LAP

Chapter Thirteen: TRANQUILLITY BASE

Epilogue: VENTURING OUTWARD

Acknowledgments

References

Notes

Index

--
Tom Neff                UUCP:     ...!uunet!bfmny0!tneff
    "Truisms aren't everything."    Internet: [e-mail]

------------------------------

End of SPACE Digest V9 #474
*******************