Internet Info 1997 December/Internet_Info_CD-ROM_Walnut_Creek_December_1997.iso/faqs/sci/answers/astronomy/sci-astro-intro

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Newsgroups: sci.astro,sci.answers,news.answers
Subject: [sci.astro] Welcome! - read this first
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Date: Tue, 21 Oct 97 16:41:36 GMT
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Summary: This posting describes the sci.astro newsgroup, with
    references to other astronomy newsgroups.  It should be read
    by anyone who wishes to post to the sci.astro newsgroup.
Xref: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu sci.astro:200501 sci.answers:7268 news.answers:115148

Archive-name: astronomy/sci-astro-intro
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Last-modified: $Date: 1997/09/03 16:22:24 $
Version: $Revision: 1.6 $
URL: http://astrosun.tn.cornell.edu/students/lazio/sci.astro.html

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Subject: Introduction

sci.astro is a newsgroup for the discussion of astronomical topics.
This post documents the topics generally accepted as appropriate for
sci.astro as well as guidelines for posting in this group.  New
readers (as well as more experienced ones!) are encouraged to review
this material with the hope that it will maximize their use and
enjoyment of sci.astro.

This post is an extract of the material found in the sci.astro FAQ.
The FAQ is posted on a regular basis to the newsgroup sci.astro.  It
is available via anonymous ftp from
<URL:ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/astronomy/faq/>, and
it is on the World Wide Web at
<URL:http://astrosun.tn.cornell.edu/students/lazio/sci.astro.html> and
<URL:
http://www.cis.ohio-state.edu/hypertext/faq/usenet/astronomy/faq/top.html>.
A partial list of worldwide mirrors (both ftp and Web) is maintained
at <URL:http://astrosun.tn.cornell.edu/students/lazio/mirrors.html>.
(As a general note, many other FAQs are also available from
<URL:ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/>.)

The material in this document was contributed by
Philippe Brieu <[e-mail]>,
Walter I. Nissen, Jr. CDP <[e-mail]>, and
Steven Willner <[e-mail], with editing by
Joseph Lazio <[e-mail]>.

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Subject: What are the astro newsgroups about?

There are six groups in the sci.astro hierarchy:

sci.astro               Astronomy discussions and information.
sci.astro.amateur       Amateur astronomy equipment, techniques, info, etc.
sci.astro.fits          Issues related to the Flexible Image Transport System.
sci.astro.hubble        Processing Hubble Space Telescope data. (Moderated)
sci.astro.planetarium   Discussion of planetariums.
sci.astro.research      Forum in astronomy/astrophysics research. (Moderated)

By default, everything that is related to astronomy/astrophysics and
is NOT covered by one of the other sci.astro.* groups is acceptable
for posting in sci.astro.  If something belongs in one of those
groups, then it does NOT belong in sci.astro and should NOT be
(cross)posted there.  In particular, this includes all amateur
observations, hardware, software, and trade (see sci.astro.amateur).

The sci.astro hierarchy is NOT the appropriate forum for

  * metaphysical discussions (try alt.paranet.metaphysics);
  * astrology (alt.astrology); or
  * creationism (talk.origins for that).

This is a science group, not one for religion, sociology, or
philosophy (even of science).

In addition, a number of topics related to astrophysics are better
suited for other groups.  For instance, elementary particle physics
should be discussed in sci.physics.particle (but discussions of
astronomical consequences are welcome in sci.astro).  Likewise for
photons and the speed of light (sci.physics).  Finally, all space
related issues (e.g. spacecraft and faster than light/time travel)
have a home in the sci.space.* hierarchy (but astronomical results
from space missions are welcome).

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

Subject: What are the guidelines for posting on astro newsgroups?

Ask yourself: Is this post about the science of astronomy?  Will many
of the thousands and thousands of readers here, people interested in
the science of astronomy, find it of personal benefit?  If so, post;
if not, there is probably a better newsgroup for your post.

If you will follow this group for a month or so before posting here,
you will greatly reduce the likelihood that you will participate in
making the newsgroup less productive and friendly and then end up
regretting it.  If you are new here, it is likely that any question
you have has already been asked.  If so, its answer is probably in one
of the FAQ files.  Check out the newsgroups news.answers, sci.answers,
and news.announce.newusers, or ask your local help file or
administrator to point you toward the FAQs.  If you become really
frustrated, pick on one of the more helpful posters here and send
e-mail (not a post) politely asking for some help.  Conversely, if
your question is novel and not in a FAQ, readers will likely be
intensely interested in considering it.

Certain topics repeatedly come up and lead to lengthy, loud-mouthed
discussions that never lead anywhere interesting.  Often these topics
have extremely little to do with the science of astronomy.  Experience
also shows that when messages are cross-posted to other groups,
followups very seldom are appropriate in sci.astro.

If you do ask a question, please consider writing up the answer for a
FAQ file.

Moreover, there are a number of common rules for all newsgroups.  If
you are a new Usenaut, please visit the newsgroup
news.announce.newusers for an introduction to the Usenet.