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Solar Eclipse - thoughts

2009-07-22, 12:23 PM #1

Ruthven

Not The Man He Once Was

Posts: 7,638

Just watched the eclipse video from asia, am i the only one who gets somewhat emotional when i see that?
Anyway it got me thinking... :gonk:

Millions of years ago, there were no total eclipses like today, as the Moon was too close to the earth.

But during the period of the Earth's history, where the highest abundance of life existed, ie. 200 million years BC - AD, is when conditions were best for total eclipses. Apparently, the longest total eclipses will occur 5000-8000 AD.

A few hundred million years after that, no more total eclipses.

My point is this: Thats a bloody big coincidence! The peak of the total eclipse in this solar system just HAPPENS to be during a period where the only sentient self-aware beings (perhaps in the Universe) who could appreciate the beauty of it, were at their peak.

Not the mention the rarity of the ideal conditions and measurements of distances of the Earth and sun and moon (The Sun's distance from the Earth is about 400 times the Moon's distance, and the Sun's diameter is about 400 times the Moon's diameter.)

It somewhat raises the issue of divine creation.
"sometimes i feel like this was all made just for me"
*God winks*

Anyway, space is awesome. :suicide:

Code:

if(getThingFlags(source) & 0x8){
  do her}
elseif(getThingFlags(source) & 0x4){
  do other babe}
else{
  do a dude}

2009-07-22, 12:31 PM #2

Steven

Doesn't care what his title is

Christmas Cardmaker Extrordinarie

Posts: 5,180

its all just a big coincidence dummy

2009-07-22, 12:37 PM #3

KOP_AoEJedi

How do I change this?

Posts: 5,705

I like how science pushes for coincidence to explain things they can't prove, but when coincidence happens to you, no one believes it.

I just happened to win the jackpot 17 times on this slot officer! I swear!

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"hurr hairy guy said my backhair looks dumb hurr hairy guy smash"

2009-07-22, 12:45 PM #4

Tank

Registered User

Posts: 1,176

i saw a special on the discovery channel about how important the moon is

2009-07-22, 12:51 PM #5

JediKirby

GoY's Pessimistic Soy Boy Toy

Posts: 17,361

How do you know we're at our peak? Furthermore, how many beautiful scenes are we missing by being here now?

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2009-07-22, 1:03 PM #6

Roger Spruce

no title at all

Posts: 3,262

How do you know solar eclipses don't occur from the vantage point of other planets? Sure, there may not be any life, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

If a tree falls in the woods and no one is around to hear it, does it still make a sound? Same principle applies.

If the moon blocks out the sun but no one is around to witness it, does the eclipse still happen?

hurr hurr hurr

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2009-07-22, 2:45 PM #7

ECHOMAN

"Has it won yet?"

Posts: 17,215

Originally posted by KOP_AoEJedi:

I like how science pushes for coincidence to explain things they can't prove...

what

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2009-07-22, 2:50 PM #8

Ruthven

Not The Man He Once Was

Posts: 7,638

Originally posted by ECHOMAN:

what

he means scientists give up and say "err, we dont know....god did it!"

Code:

if(getThingFlags(source) & 0x8){
  do her}
elseif(getThingFlags(source) & 0x4){
  do other babe}
else{
  do a dude}

2009-07-22, 2:52 PM #9

Roger Spruce

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Posts: 3,262

I've never heard a scientist say that.

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2009-07-22, 2:58 PM #10

Ruthven

Not The Man He Once Was

Posts: 7,638

not directly Zul but they simply hint at the possibility, when science shows the complexity of the the Universe to be nearly infinite, they raise credence to the notion that "all this seems very unlikely from a random accident like the big bang".

Steven Hawking concluded his book "A brief history of time" with a similar sentiment :colbert:

Code:

if(getThingFlags(source) & 0x8){
  do her}
elseif(getThingFlags(source) & 0x4){
  do other babe}
else{
  do a dude}

2009-07-22, 3:04 PM #11

Roger Spruce

no title at all

Posts: 3,262

... Calling something a coincidence is almost the exact opposite of saying "God did it."

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2009-07-22, 3:18 PM #12

Ruthven

Not The Man He Once Was

Posts: 7,638

*sigh*, coincidence, its fate, divine intervention, GOD DID IT! See the natural progression from one to the other. its just a word. Im not gonna argue the various contexts/meanings of the word.

Code:

if(getThingFlags(source) & 0x8){
  do her}
elseif(getThingFlags(source) & 0x4){
  do other babe}
else{
  do a dude}

2009-07-22, 3:31 PM #13

Roger Spruce

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Posts: 3,262

It's no surprise that you didn't finish your astrophysics degree.

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2009-07-22, 3:47 PM #14

Ruthven

Not The Man He Once Was

Posts: 7,638

Arguing the meaning of a word in the English language != science.

I left due to matrices and Quantum Mechanics. Nasty stuff

Code:

if(getThingFlags(source) & 0x8){
  do her}
elseif(getThingFlags(source) & 0x4){
  do other babe}
else{
  do a dude}

2009-07-22, 3:51 PM #15

Roger Spruce

no title at all

Posts: 3,262

The fact that you missed my point further reinforces my point.

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2009-07-22, 3:56 PM #16

Ruthven

Not The Man He Once Was

Posts: 7,638

Yes you're smarterer than me

Code:

if(getThingFlags(source) & 0x8){
  do her}
elseif(getThingFlags(source) & 0x4){
  do other babe}
else{
  do a dude}

2009-07-22, 3:57 PM #17

Roger Spruce

no title at all

Posts: 3,262

Again, while true, not my point.

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2009-07-22, 4:19 PM #18

ECHOMAN

"Has it won yet?"

Posts: 17,215

I fail to see how the eclipse is a wonderful treat for the eyes when looking at it directly with your eyes is a terrible thing to do.

It's much as an evidence for a deity as the everyday banana is for creationism.

I don't think you would have been a good scientist.

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-----------------------------@%

2009-07-22, 5:01 PM #19

Emon

Imon, umon...everymon!

Posts: 19,022

Originally posted by Ruthven:

*sigh*, coincidence, its fate, divine intervention, GOD DID IT! See the natural progression from one to the other. its just a word. Im not gonna argue the various contexts/meanings of the word.

Uh, maybe you should argue them, because apparently you don't know the meaning.

A coincidence is when events occur in tandem but there is no causal relationship. It's random chance that one happened at the same time as the other. Fate is not chance, it's the opposite -- it means events are in a set, unchangeable sequence. It doesn't really say anything about why that's the case. Fate doesn't imply god. Divine intervention means that a divine being (god) interfered to create the desired outcome. How can you possibly think these are at all the same?

Bassoon, n. A brazen instrument into which a fool blows out his brains.

2009-07-22, 5:08 PM #20

Roger Spruce

no title at all

Posts: 3,262

But Emon, it's a logical progression!

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2009-07-22, 5:41 PM #21

kyle90

Laser Lover

Posts: 8,450

What is this thread, it is stupid.

Go post in my space exploration thread

Stuff

2009-07-22, 5:43 PM #22

gbk

Posts: 10,562

All that you touch
And all that you see
All that you taste
All you feel
And all that you love
And all that you hate
All you distrust
All you save
And all that you give
And all that you deal
And all that you buy
Beg, borrow or steal
And all you create
And all you destroy
And all that you do
And all that you say
And all that you eat
And everyone you meet
And all that you slight
And everyone you fight
And all that is now
And all that is gone
And all that's to come
And everything under the sun is in tune
But the sun is eclipsed by the moon

"There is no dark side of the moon really. Matter of fact it's all dark."

And when the moment is right, I'm gonna fly a kite.

2009-07-22, 6:44 PM #23

Ruthven

Not The Man He Once Was

Posts: 7,638

Echoman, i dont actually believe in that stuff(divine creation) but still, i thought its a pretty amazing event given how rare it is to have all the planets in question at the right distance... yadda yadda yadda

Emon/zul: I was just writing a huge explanation for why i use the term coincidence in the same way as fate and divine intervention, and realised it was quite fruitless. Maybe you're right? Not a huge deal is it? Can i go now? This is kinda boring...

Code:

if(getThingFlags(source) & 0x8){
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elseif(getThingFlags(source) & 0x4){
  do other babe}
else{
  do a dude}

2009-07-22, 6:46 PM #24

Oxyonagon

"emphasis"

Posts: 2,801

The moon is indeed, important.

Sneaky sneaks. I'm actually a werewolf. Woof.

2009-07-22, 6:59 PM #25

Roger Spruce

no title at all

Posts: 3,262

That's funny, because I was just writing an explanation for why I use blue to describe things that are red, and realized it was quite fruitless. No big deal, right?

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2009-07-22, 7:06 PM #26

Ruthven

Not The Man He Once Was

Posts: 7,638

yeah, cos thats the same thing, definately

Code:

if(getThingFlags(source) & 0x8){
  do her}
elseif(getThingFlags(source) & 0x4){
  do other babe}
else{
  do a dude}

2009-07-22, 7:10 PM #27

ragna

RAGNA ANGARY

Posts: 2,023

Originally posted by Ruthven:

Millions of years ago, there were no total eclipses like today, as the Moon was too close to the earth.

I'm not sure about the first fact, but the second fact doesn't seem like the reason for the first fact, if you think about it.

2009-07-22, 7:13 PM #28

Roger Spruce

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Posts: 3,262

I'm not sure him thinking about it will have the results you'd hope for.

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2009-07-22, 7:14 PM #29

Ruthven

Not The Man He Once Was

Posts: 7,638

For full total eclipse, the distances from the Earth to Moon/Sun and sizes of the Moon and Sun have to be exact. (Read above)

If the moon is too close, you dont get total eclipse, that is, as i read it on BBC, total eclipses are when Sun and Moon appear to be the exact same size.

edit: note to self: dont start random threads when you're high on antimigraine tablets.

Code:

if(getThingFlags(source) & 0x8){
  do her}
elseif(getThingFlags(source) & 0x4){
  do other babe}
else{
  do a dude}

2009-07-22, 7:47 PM #30

JediKirby

GoY's Pessimistic Soy Boy Toy

Posts: 17,361

Did you just say Hawking's conclusion in A Brief History of Time was that he's a creationist?

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2009-07-22, 7:49 PM #31

Roger Spruce

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Posts: 3,262

He also said that blue=red.

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2009-07-22, 7:57 PM #32

Ruthven

Not The Man He Once Was

Posts: 7,638

i'm paraphrasing, i'm told he said something like "bla bla bla limits of our knowledge, but the complexity of the Universe is baffling bla bla bla its order and patterns seem to be part of some sort of grand design bla bla bla"

Or so i remember. I read his next book, Universe in a nut shell, which wasnt so well recieved.

Basically

Oh hai im the new Friend14 :carl:

Code:

if(getThingFlags(source) & 0x8){
  do her}
elseif(getThingFlags(source) & 0x4){
  do other babe}
else{
  do a dude}

2009-07-22, 8:32 PM #33

ECHOMAN

"Has it won yet?"

Posts: 17,215

Are you high?

SnailIracing:n(500tpostshpereline)pants
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2009-07-22, 8:35 PM #34

Roger Spruce

no title at all

Posts: 3,262

As someone who has been high many times in my past, I can safely say that these thoughts are not a product of drugs but rather a lack of understanding and comprehension.

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2009-07-22, 8:41 PM #35

Roger Spruce

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Posts: 3,262

I blame lesbians.

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2009-07-22, 8:53 PM #36

Roger Spruce

no title at all

Posts: 3,262

Quote:

However, if we do discover a complete theory, it should in time be understandable in broad principle by everyone, not just a few scientists. Then we shall all, philosophers, scientists, and just ordinary people, be able to take part in the discussion of the question of why it is that we and the universe exist. If we find the answer to that, it would be the ultimate triumph of human reason – for then we would know the mind of God.

Is this what you're paraphrasing?

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2009-07-22, 9:23 PM #37

Jon`C

Admiral of Awesome

Posts: 18,626

I enjoy this thread because I, too, use words to refer to their antonyms.

2009-07-22, 9:29 PM #38

Jon`C

Admiral of Awesome

Posts: 18,626

Originally posted by Ruthven:

In order to be the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University you must not be active in a religion.

2009-07-22, 10:22 PM #39

Ruthven

Not The Man He Once Was

Posts: 7,638

Originally posted by Ruthven:

edit: note to self: dont start random threads when you're high on antimigraine tablets.

Proposed thread: Light hearted discussion about the eclipse and the Universe/science started by someone who isnt a scientist and who's knowledge is no where near infallible, but hopefully the better educated would provide lots more precise information and constructive ideas.

Actual thread: yeah...

Attachment: 22355/Someone_Is_Wrong_On_The_Internet.jpg (86,852 bytes)

Code:

if(getThingFlags(source) & 0x8){
  do her}
elseif(getThingFlags(source) & 0x4){
  do other babe}
else{
  do a dude}

2009-07-22, 10:52 PM #40

Jon`C

Admiral of Awesome

Posts: 18,626

Originally posted by Jon`C:

In order to be the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University you must not be active in a religion.

This isn't to say that he must be an atheist, which is something Professor Hawking has pointed out on several occasions, but it does discourage the sort of expression Ruthven is attributing to him.