SUBSIM: The Web's #1 resource for all submarine & naval simulations since 1997 |
07-16-17, 07:09 AM | #32 |
Navy Seal
|
About the first point in Aries, which isn't in Aires any more. It is definitely not an arbitrary point (of course! It has to be measured and confirmed.) The first point in Aries is that point where the Sun's path crosses the celestial equator in its path from south to north. This happens on the first day of spring for us northern hemisphere denizens.
All this mess with the first point in Aries not being in Aries any more comes from the roots of astronomy in astrology, 3000 years ago. Because the Earth wobbles on its axis, the north pole makes a circle in the sky with a period of 26,000 (roughly) years. This MOVES the first point in Aries, the place where the Sun crossed the celestial equator 3000 years ago to the point where the "first point in Aries" is two constellations away now in Pisces! For a little fun, go see the total solar eclipse, find an astrology obsessed friend and travel to the eclipse. Before the eclipse, ask them which constellation the Sun is in. Then during the eclipse, have them identify clearly that the Sun is not in its astrological constellation at all! It is two constellations over. But wait! It gets worse. Astrology says that during the year the Sun passes through 12 constellations. That is dead wrong. The Sun passes through 15 different constellations, spending the most time in the largest of them, Ophiuchus, which doesn't rate a seat at the Zodiac table! So astrology, which as its basis says that the positions of the stars, sun, moon and planets guide our lives, doesn't even bother to track the stars, sun, moon and planets. So much for any credibility. The shock on an astrology enthusiast's face when they see that for themselves, with the Sun two constellations away from where their beloved charts say it is, is priceless.
__________________
Sub Skipper's Bag of Tricks, Slightly Subnuclear Mk 14 & Cutie, Slightly Subnuclear Deck Gun, EZPlot 2.0, TMOPlot, TMOKeys, SH4CMS Last edited by Rockin Robbins; 07-16-17 at 07:22 AM. |
|
|