In This Issu e THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM RECONS1DERED: A THEOLOG ICAL AP PROACH Carl J. Wenning 2 THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM RECONS IDERED: AN HISTORICAL APPROAC H .John Mosley and Ernest L. Ma rl in 6 TH E HEAVENS AN D A CONSC IOUS EX P ER I ENCE OF tMORTA LI TY . . . . . . . . . . Georgia Hooks Shurr 11 THE CANALS OF MARS, A RETROSPECTIVE David H. DcVorkin, cesc and Michael Mendillo 12 FEATURES: Letters and Announcements 3 What's New James Brown 9 Focus on Educa tion Jeanne Bis hop 10 Creat ive Corner (How 10 Assemble Space Stillion- Island Onc" by Brian Sullivan) Herb Schwartz' 22 Jane's Comer . • . . . . . . . . . Jane P. Geohcgan 27 Vo l. 9 No.2 Summer, 1980
Transcript
In This Issue
THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM RECONS1DERED: A THEOLOG ICAL APPROACH Carl J. Wenning 2
THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM RECONS IDERED: AN HISTORICAL APPROACH .John Mosley and Ernest L. Marlin 6
TH E HEAVENS AND A CONSCIOUS EXPER IENCE OF tMORTA LITY . . . . . . . . . . Georgia Hooks Shurr 11
THE CANALS OF MARS, A RETROSPECTIVE David H. DcVorkin, cesc and Michael Mendillo 12
FEATURES: Letters and Announcements 3
What 's New James Brown 9
Focus on Educa tion Jeanne Bishop 10
Crea tive Corner (How 10 Assemble Space Stillion- Island Onc" by Brian Sullivan)
Herb Schwartz' 22
Jane's Comer . • . . . . . . . . . Jane P. Geohcgan 27
Vol. 9 No. 2
Summer, 1980
THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM RECONSIDERED: A THEOLOGICAL APPROACH Carl J. Wenning 1.S. U. Planetarium Illinois State University Normal, IL 61761
Each and every Christmas season the public hears from the planetarium community how the Star of Bethlehem mystery has been solved. As a solution the famous triple conjunction is proffered. The triple conjunction occurred in what appears to be the appr~priate ti me frame, fits many factors, and is plausible. In fact, a whole plethora of ideas give support to the triple conjunction as being THE answer. There is some mention of meteors, comets, novae, variable stars, ball lightning, and even flying saucers, but none of these really seem to fit the evidence. Some programs pay lip service to the possiblity of a miracle, but most of us leave that explanation alone. After all, it's not astronomy!
Taking this approach always leaves me with a nagging worry that we as planetarians are leading people to believe in the predictive powers of astrology. Some writers of Christmas programs have realized this in the past and have done what they could to discredit astrology. The effort is noble, but the fact remains that the triple conjunction did indeed occur near the time of that special nativity and can be interpreted astrologically as an omen. So no matter how much name calling we do, as far as the general public can see it, the Magi could have interpreted the triple conjunction "correctly" and then traveled to where the young child was.
We as planetarians have the duty to educate the public about the fallacious nature of much of astrological belief. We do this eleven months out of the year-but every Decemoer,wben many of us reacb our greatest number of people, we are basically teaching them to believe in the predictive power of astrology. Argue all you want against astrology, the fact remains that if we don't show how the triple conjunction fails to fit the facts, people are going to keep on believing in astrology. I'm not arguing that the triple conjunction was not that special star, but that something better fits all the known facts. This is a point I had to make to an astrologer who visited the ISU planetarium last December. The story is short and worth relating because it shows what people can be led to believe.
After completing my final Christmas show for the 1979 season, several persons remained afterwards to ask questions. One of them stepped forward and admitted that she was an astrologer, and noted how my particular program vindicated her belief in the predictive powers of astrology. I discussed with her some of the arguments against the triple conjunction-against astrology in general-but I couldn't offer her any better explanation of the star. After we parted I began questioning what I had been doing. What wer.e we as planetarians doing when we leave people with the idea that the triple conjunction is THE answer to the Christmas star mystery? Asking myself this question I resolved to look for a better answer-if indeed one existed. To my great satisfaction I now have an alternative.
I have mentioned that many possible explanations exist: meteors, comets, novae, variable stars, triple conjunctions, etc. These solutions are all astronomical in nature. What if the "star" was not astronomical? What if it was something else that an astronomer wouldn't consider? Cou Id it be that we are short-changing the
2
public if we don't take into account other considerations? It is my firm belief that to truly solve the Christmas star mystery we must call in someone who is both an astronomer and a theologian. Now I do not purport to be an astronomer, much less a theologian. However I am sufficiently well versed in biblical studies to ~uggest several alternatives to the triple conjunction which simply does not explain the Star of Bethlehem.
As far as I can tell there are basically three things that the Christmas star might have been: first, an actual physical object explicable by scientific law; second a miracle used by God for His own purpose; and third, a midrash, a literary invention of an author relating a story, in this case the nativity.
Of the Christmas shows I have seen, never has one truly considered the second and third points seriously. I can perhaps see why this is so; the other two deal in the realm of theology. Granted, few if any of us are theologians and astronomers at the same time, but this is what the solution of the Star of Bethlehem mystery requi~es. I have made a study of the Bible, and other associated works, and have found some interesting points I would like to relate to you.
Through these studies I have become convinced that there are several explanations, and one in particular which I feel solves the Christmas star mystery admirably: I do not intend to rewrite all the explanations of the star of Bethlehem but would like to consider one in particular, and propose two alternatives to the regularly proffered triple conjunction.
THE TRIPLE CONJUNCTION: WHY IT FAILS TO SOLVE
THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM MYSTERY Most of the scripts dealing with the star of
Bethlehem make convincing argument for the triple conjunction. It fits the time frame fairly well, and all such manner of evidence as gleaned from the biblical narratives of Matthew and Luke to satisfy the public, and perhaps ourselves as well. I contend, however, that researchers in the past have presented selected favorable evidence for the triple conjunction and in so doing dismiss any other possible solutions. It is my belief that no matter how well the triple conjunction fits selected evidence, it fails to satisfactorily explain the Christmas star. Based on the following evidence, I am sure that you will agree that the triple conjunction is totally unsatisfactory, wholly superficial, and not the explanation of the star of Bethlehem.
Even though the triple conjunction is plausible, there are basically eight arguments against it. None of these is sufficient to stand by itself, but the combined evidence weighs against the triple conjunction. Consider the following points: 1 . I fin deed the Wise Men were
astronomers/astrologers they surely would have been familiar with the motions of the planets and the workings of the heavens. It is doubtful, therefore, that the westward tre k of the planets across the sky would have led them as mentioned in MATTHEW 2 :9. I n no reasonable way could the two planets Jupiter and Saturn, or the gathering of
Continu'ed on page 4
I Volume 9, Number 2 Publication Date: August 1, 1980
David Hoffman, Executive Editor Godwin Heights Public Schools
'Planetarium, 15 36th Street S. W., Wyoming, MI 49508
Ronald N. Hartman, Publishing Director, Department of Mathematics and Astronomy, Mt. San Antonio College Walnut, CA 91789
Associate Editors: Terence Murtagh (British Isles) jacques Dumas, Sig Wieser
(Canada) Dennis Simopoulos (Europe) Maximo Lacro, jr. (Far East) jeanne E. Bishop, james Brown jack Dunn, jane P. Goehegan Ronald N. Hartman, George Reed, Herbert Schwartz
(United States)
OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY
james A. Hooks, President Robeson County Planetarium, Lumberton, NC 28358
Donald S. Hall, Past President ________ , President Elect D. David Batch, Executive
Secretary, Abrams Planetarium, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824
Walt Tenschert, Treasurer and Membership Chairman.
For missed numbers, circulation information, membership, and library subscriptions, write to:
Walt Tenschert, I.P.S., Membership Chairman, Thomas jefferson High School,· 6560 Braddock Road, Alexandria, VA 22312
CHANGE OF ADDRESS information should be. reported to the Membership Chairman.
LETTERS
Dear Editor:
Here is an announcement which we believe will be of interest all science teachers.
SCI-MATH CURRICULUM
A new curriculum in mathematics for science is in ten secondary schools in Connecticut under a grant from the Science Foundation. The curriculum, which prepares CC>f'A ... rlClIC" '>I.UY""L.:>
for the quantitative aspects of chemistry and understanding of proportional calculations using real-life activities. Among the topics included are rates, dimensional analysis, ratios, percentages, direct and inverse proportions, graphical analysis, scientific notation, calculation, and estimation. A free newsletter may be writing to me.
Thank you.
Sincerely yours,
Madeline P. Goodstein Chemistry Department Director, Sci-Math Project Connecticut State College New CT 06050
AN LETTER TO THE MEMBERSHIP:
In the Spring, 1978 issue of the Planetarian we results of a survey in which we asked all of you for your suggestions regarding the Planetarian. We wanted your ideas and content.
I am pleased that in the following two years we have been implement almost all of those suggestions. Your Planetarian staff eager to evaluate the progress of our in an effort to ourselves to your needs and interests.
This is probably the tightest issue have been associated and our time window both in the magazine's space
publication deadlines.
This is being written on July 18 and we are about to press. If all goes well, this issue will be in your hands before you for the I PS Conference in
Let the Planetarian staff hav.e your comments so that we continue to improve.
Thank you,
Ronald N. Hartman Planetarian Publishing Director
near the time of were no where
in Bethlehem or any
the verses of MATTHEW 2 am that the star wh ich the Men
the for
ratios of the would be visible in
well than in the the
Book after exhortations to the
ISAIAH 47: this theme.
is filled with to avoid belief in should suffice
statements as belief inconsistent with his form of
could not have referred
of Matthew.
those the the Other
other citations can also be of the anonymous first
of the first descri be the
arguments in favor of the the lines of
it would life
was it to be
n'l\ITnn,r",,, is part of the Bible argument. HAU/A"':>I"
the case. One must be because th is word
connotes to some, relative truth to others. Since to be the case, it's best to start with new when this aspect of the narratives. such word that can be used is Ilmidrash." A midrash is a tool
an author to show seeds of that would no other way be obvious to the The Christmas star may be but in
we be certain. pro and lar cover a few in of
BETH John Mosley Griffith Observatory 2800 East Observatory Road Los Angeles, CA 90027
Ernest L. Martin Foundation for Biblical Research P. O. Box 928 Pasadena, CA 91102
R
If any tradition has developed among planetariums it is the custom of presenting an annual Christmas show featuring the Star of Bethlehem. The show usually begins by establishing that Christ was born prior to 4 B.C. and then searches the ancient skies for suitable astronomical phenomena. We are rewarded near the conclusion by a triple conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in 7 B.C. that both satisfies the audience while justifying the planetarium show.
New research, however, shows that dedpite the weight of tradition we may have been wrong all these years. If so, planetariu ms will have to adjust their presentations in a significant way (Ciotti, 1978; Martin, 1978).
The major reason for focusing on the conjunctions of 7 B.C. is that we have confined ourselves to the few years prior to 4 B.C., and these conjunctions are the major astronomical events of that period. It has always been known that Christ was born shortly before the death of Herod, and that Herod died between the time of a lunar eclipse and the following Passover. Most scholars have identified this eclipse as that of March 13, 4 B.C., and the Passover as that of Apri I 11, and have placed Herod's death at around April 1. This determines the latest possible date for Christ's birth. The earliest possible date is established by recalling that Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem in response to a decree by Augustus Caesar that all the Roman world would be registered, while inscriptions discovered in Turkey indicate that this registration took place in 8 B.C. As there are no records of comets or novae between the years 9 and 5 B.C., we are left with the triple conjunction, an appealing solution because conjunctions had great significance only to the magi (astrologers) and because we can demonstrate it so well with our planetarium machines.
New research shows that this scenario is probably wrong-that Christ was probably born in 2 B.C. and that the Star was Jupiter or a series of conjunctions between Jupiter, Venus, and Regu Ius in 3 and 2 B.C. This new historical research involves a redetermination of the date of Herod's death and the consequent readjustment in the date of Christ's birth (Martin, 1978 and 1979).
Herod's death is traditionally placed in 4 B.C. because a) the eclipse referred to by Josephus has been identified with the one of March 13, 4 B.C., and b} Herod's three successprs seem to have begun their reigns in that year. The second argument may be invalid if these successors were later awarded regnal years in which they did not actually rule or if a joint rulership was established, their terms being reckoned from this earlier time rather than Herod's actual death, as was common practice, but the details are not yet clear. The first argument, however, now seems almost certain to be incorrect for tbe following reasons.
The interval between the eclipse of March 13 and the Passover of April 11 was 30 days. During this period the following events took place: two prominent rabbis
6
H
who had destroyed a golden were Herod's orders (they were burned on eclipse). Herod's physical condition rlo't-a,.,r.r-:>i'c,rI
trying several remedies he went to the baths of on the Dead Sea for but returned near when they failed to help. back in ordered many prominent Jewish elders to assemble at palace with secret instructions to them day of his death-in time they arrived and were locked in the hippodrome. Soon afterward came Rome for Herod to execute his son, which did immediately. Herod himself later. elaborate funeral procession from ericho to the site at Horodium then consumed a week month, and was followed by the traditional 7 mourning and then by a feast in honor of the new king, Archelaus, gave audiences to the changes in the army, decided several prisoners. Then the Passover occurred
Thirty days is not an au','-lUu~"" all that transpired. The eclipse and Passover have occurred in 4 S.c. because in that year too close together. There was an 1 B.C. which would satisfy the but plain historical information Gaius, the grandson of summer after the eclipse this fits sumner of 1 while there is clear that Gaius was in Syria in the summer of only eclipse-Passover combination that will work eclipse of January 0, 1 B.C. and the Passover following 8.
TABLE ECUPSES AND PASSOVERS, 8-
Date of Date of Lunar Next Eclipse Type Passover
Nov. 18, 8 B.C. partial Mar. 27, 7 B.C. Mar. 23, 5 B.C. total 21,5 B.C. 28 Sep. 15/16, 5 B.C. total 11,4 B.C. 209 Mar. 13,4 B.C. partial 11,4 B.C. Jan. 9/10, 1 B.C. total 1 B.C. Dec. 29, 1 B.C. partial 1 A.D.
If the correct eclipse was on and Herod died later that month, been born during 3 or 2 B.C. This is confirmed virtually all early Christian historians and who lived from the second century onward
30 90 90
1964, pp. 215-230). They were familiar with the \AIn't, ... ""
sti II available to us plus others since lost and nearly unanimous in placing the birth after 4 There is independent confirmation from Luke, who wrote Christ began his ministry "at about 30 of indicates that this was in the autum 29 statement is difficult to reconcile with a 5 or 6 B.C.
reasons for
tax to Roman citizens and Mary 1
the
census Mary would not have her nor would have had it is much more that this "tax"
or census--an oath of "'U);;U~'LU~ Caesar on the occasion of his
when he- was awarded the title of "Pater would have been of all adults in the
noncitizens. of royal lineage Clof both and Mary would have
..,t",-nll"'C,"'" to (lithe of The census was not for tax evaluation at and should read lIenroliment," The enrollment of 3 B,C, :)U):,):,I;;:)L:) that Christ was born in 3 or 2 B,C, in accord
the Christian historians. The taxation of 8 B,C, is irrelevant.
It is often claimed in ",1", ... "+,,),,,,,
made an error of four years in date of Christ's birth +~V'~~'-+'~ to allow for the
that under the name of Octavian it is hard to
to be a scholar
in +"''>,,+, ... \{ .. "Schebat 2" is
have been commemoration because it was "The Death." In 1 Schebat 2 fell would fit the scenario
is forgotten have felt
selected for of Herod's
28 and between the
lunar and Herod's Cln."\rr.,nr,-:.'t", amount of
time for what + ... "' .... c."ya.rI
It of the one for
If this B.C.-then the is irrelevant. events of 3 and 2 1
the for some weeks now, but tonight there was a difft:!rence. The two closest together than anyone for many years.
As the sky darkened, this brilliant "double star" san k 10\\er, the planets drawing nearer and nearer. At last, just above the horizon, they fused into one, gleaming like a great beacon over Judea to the west. The final event in an eventful year was a very close
conjunction between Jupiter and Mars on August 27, 2 B.C., after Jupiter had reappeared in the morning sky. The two planets were only 0.14 degrees apart, and were within two degrees of longitude of both Mercury and Venus. Although only eight degrees from the sun and difficult to observe, the astronomers in that period could have calculated the time of the conjunction and may have been looking for it.
Both conjunctions between Jupiter and Venus took place approximately seven degrees from and on either side of it. (In 1950.0 coordiantes the Right Ascensions of the planets at the two conjunctions were 9h 41 m and 10h 30m respectively.)
1 Astronomical information for 3/2 B.C. is taken from Tuckerman, 1964, and reprinted in Martin, 1978.
2 At the same time Mercury and Venus were within three degrees of longitude-an exceptional massing of the planets. Longitudes: Venus, 141.51; Mars, 142.56; Jupiter, 142.6; Mercu ry, 144.28.
As the observers of the "Star of Bethlehem" were the Magi it is important to know the possible aSlrol '02lcal interpretation of whatever was seen. The significance of the 7 B.C. upiter-Saturn Pisces. is familiar: upiter to the king, and Saturn is associated the Jews who even celebrate its (Saturday). Pisces has often been associated with the Jews in modern planetarium shows, but this association can be traced back no earlier than to the Jewish commentator Abarbanal in the 15th century and is best left unmentioned. The significance of the conjunctions of 3 and 2 is no less important, and actually much more so. Jupiter is associated with kingship, but so is Regulus whose latin name includes the root word for king. Of all the stars, Regulus was the one universally connected with greatness and and was claearly important to the conception or kings. If there is doubt about Pisces there is none about leo-leo was Judah's natal sign, and is often referred to in the Bible as the sign of the Hebrew people. To the
Venus was Ishtar the Mother and the and very relevant to the birth of a
The "Star of Bethlehem" (Rodman, 1976), presumably J "seen in the east" as it rose in
8
and Venus in travels. On December retrograde as it stood still.
The fact that stars on December mid bodied to Matthew meant in to a halt over the phenomenon from J been "stopped" over the southern horizon at the predawn observations of the skies.
It to note
who was now and so the Magi different way." innocents rabbis on
of
condition worsened, and he died on January 28, B.C. Meanwhile, Joseph had fled with his family to
The implication of the above is that was born in the summer or early autumn of 2 at the peak of an astronomically and astrologically interesting year.
It is indeed fortunate for the planetarium community that the recalculated date for the birth of Christ 'contains so many astronomical events. It would be a minor tragedy if nothing whatsoever of astronomical interest had happened in 3 or 2 B.C.!
The Griffith Observatory will present an entirely revised Christmas show in 1980. After pointing out the problems of establishing the date of the birth of Christ (and without arriving at a hard conclusion) the show will examine both the conjunctions of 7 and of 3/2 giving greater weight to the latter. If and when the majority of classical scholars conclude that Christ was born in or near 2 reference to the events of 7 B.C. will be dropped altogether. It is after all, not important to astronomers that it was one conjunction or the other-what is important is that astronomers have something to contribute, that the "Star" was an identifiable astronomical phenomenon, and that planetariums are justified in re-examining it each Christmas.
References Asimov, Is~ac, "Star in the East," in The Planet That Wasn't New
York: Doubleday, 1976.
, ••••••••• ••
AlP Inc. (128 Crooked Hill Road, Huntington, NY 11743) has sent out their March 1 1980 issue of Zoom News. In it they report, is planning a demonstration at the Charles Hayden Planetarium of an AlP-5/DlCS zoom system (digital electronics). The new automatic features of the DlCS will be emphasized. The enhanced slow motion capability will be demonstrated, as well as the single button automatic feature which allows the operator to exactly preset the next zoom sequence ~o that his hands are free during the performance of It. Other functions such as dimming rates and presettable zoom positions will be discussed." We are also told that "A new series of planetarium and classroom visuals will soon be available. Covering a wide range of topics, these graphics offer a novel and coherent a~proach to your educational ,curriculum and show production. All slides are PIN REG that is they will dissolve from one slide to the next with precision alignment. These slide series range from astronomical graphics, computer graphics in color, space art, an? inclu.de complete panoramas. Individually tailored slide senes available through consultation with you." For more information about these new slides write to Bob Farrell, 38 Upland Drive, East Northport, NY 11731.
. Speaking of custom art work, if you are in need of special model building, D & E Models of 1 Crown Point Atlantic Florida does that
"The Christmas Star," 1966 (33 rpm phonograph
Ciotti,
1978.
Finegan, Jack, Handbook University Press, NJ,
Biblical Chronology,
Hughes, David, "The Star of Bethlehem," 513-567, December 9, 1976.
The Star Co,rltif'ma!tlOn, Walker Co., New
"Star of the Magi," , Cupertino, CA
Martin, Ernest, The Birth of Christ Re,':alc'ulated FBR Publications, 1978.
_______ to 'The of Pasadena, FBR Publications, 1979.
Morrison Planetarium, The Morrison Planetarium Booklet
Oriti, "The Star of Bethlehem," Griffith Observer Decernb(~r 1975.
Palmer, T. 1., "Letter to the Editor, 268, 566, 11,1977.
Robert, "A Linguistic Note on Observer 40, pp. December 1976.
"Thoughts on the Star of Bethlehem," 36, pp. 384-7, December 1968.
kind of work. have Alexander Brest Planetarium in
LM Visuals of 920 slide
Sciences. glaciation, astronomy Astronomer, and I ts Lunar
-Constellations of the Northern and Meteors. Each slide
20 slides and sells for $20. Prices are And for those of in need of storage
Elden Enterprises, inc., . Box 3201, Charleston, Virginia, 25332, has a beautiful cabinet for visuals. The model called ABODIA has channels individual slides can be and sorted arrange a slide series of scanning the program in tables, one can assemble cabinet from one back lighting and a unwanted hands and
For this issue) I have collected information about recent research and projects in astronomy and planetarium education which might be helpful to planetarians. It is hoped that many of the project coordinators will write separate full-length articles on their work for the Planetarian.
Constellations to Students: Gerald Mallon (1980) of Pennsylvania's Methacton
School District recently completed a doctoral study involving elementary children in the planetarium. He found that a participatory program covering stars and constellations was superior to a traditional program. Significant' positive attitude changes were found in Pennsylvania but not in replications. An important feature of the study was the simultaneous testing at five different planetariums. A total of 556 students was involved.
Abilities of School Students: Kelsey and Carolyn Brockway (1980) of Iowa
have conducted a revealing study with 35 high school students who were then taking a one-quarter course in astronomy and who had already covered the topic of moon phases. The investigators found that many of the students had trouble locating and describing the position of the terminator on the moon in three-dimensional models and in top-view drawings) particularly when the phase was crescent or gibbous. The highest percentage unable to locate a terminator was 24 of 35 (69%!') when
with a top-view drawing with the moon in a waning crescent position. The results show that many high school and probably even college-age students have difficulty with astronomy topics at the most basic level of comprehension-perception. With other aspects of the study) the investigators found that spatial abilities generally were poorly developed in the students.
~ .... ~,~.~" Not a Serious Matter to Some Students: Joseph Stollmayer (1980) of Nova Schools in
Florida investigated attitudes toward astrology by students in elective ninth-tenth grade astronomy classes. Contrary to what might be expected, he found that astrology was not taken seriously by the stu·dents. Evidently I reports Stoll mayer) "Astrology is a latent thing. It is of no great interest to the young in any real sense. It does become important in adult life for some people."
Astronomy Program at a Dinah Moche (1980) of Queensborough Community
College in New York) reported on expansion of the astronomy program at Queensborough, a public, urban, two-year institution. Astronomy has become the most frequently elected course for satisfying a four-credit general education requirement. There is d provision for
totally telephone dislike science are attracted the utilizes a manual of both indoor and and has alternative enrichment, and homebound instruction. audiocassettes and written self-instructional being produced and tested staff "Understanding the Viewed from Telescopes," "The "Stellar "Cosmology," appears that with
astronomy groups, concludt:s) "A replicability for urban astronomy enrollments are
Moche, Dinah. Education in an Urban the Association of American
R. D. and G. O. Coldevin. "Effects Overlapping in Multi-image
PLET, 14(1),1977,33-42.
Stollmayer, J. The spectre of .,..tr"I.c> ... ,
class. A paper presented at Association annual convention, Anaheim, March,
Languages Literatures
references to astronomical the twentieth
may
in Simon and of Hadrian is
of Rome. This work contains a
studied and VY'Inl...,1-'An of the stars leads
some sense of an transforms his sense of
real world around
ancient actual events of human life.
purport than the act, motions terms of celestial moment one senses, as of the Roman ru ler.
the stars and so to celestial bodies.
the fourth century interested in it Christian era. That fascination the
to astronomy and his even sugges~ that
hastens to add he is
its it is '"''''".h" ..... r
man is part same law s as govern search the heavens
which influence one's the Roman
the world which lies
absolute the
CCSC presently on leave at the AlP
Note: This paper is an adaptation of a talk by
Mendillo and DeVorkin and delivered by Mendillo at the National Meeting of the AAAS held in
Colorado, February 20-25, 1 and is reprinted herein with their kind permission as well as with that of The Connecticut Journal of Science Education.
In the fields of there are few as certain as the fact
no canals. no structures as grand as or Panama nor a transcontinental
or to be sure, not even the muddy ditches on the Martian landscapes the 1950's To
Martian Canals is therefore to
A like to assu me the r\c,:lVI,.na.11
role lesson can be learned from this fable?" To do this, we must first look at the history of the surface markings on or what people were surface markings, in to set the stage
's observations of 1877. appropriately, cartographers of Mars were fellow countrymen of
the famous Milan astronomer. 25 years after Galiieo first turned a telescope to the Francesco Fontana in 1636 sketched circular features he saw
a small n 1666, Giovanni and Salvatore surface markings to
determine the rotation of as did Giacomo Maraldi in 1704.
the astronomer of the late 17th Christiaan
famous series of sketches of Mars in 1 Robert Hooke used
Martian surface to deduce the rotation of which was later refined by Sir 1777. Herschell also described the Martian is credited with the interpretation that their
is due to reflected sun light off frozen masses snow and ice (a view of some for the story
to follow). As the middle of the 19th
names of Beer and later la Secchi for' as Director of
Figure la. Three drawings of Mars by Christiaan Huyghens (1629-1695).
Figure 3. A "map" of Mars made by R. A. Proctor (1837-1888) from drawings of William Dawes. Note that all features are named after prominent astronomers, except for the Kaiser Sea.
Sch iapare iii's Canali It was Giovani Schiaparelli who brought a new
focus to this detail (to bring this detail into focus) with a famous series of maps which he began in 1877. These maps showed many of the vague darkish areas found by others, but also a new class of markings-the long, dark, narrow lines. These canali, a word which Italian dictionaries still translate as channels, were soon popularized into canals-a term which would both fire the enthusiasm and enrage the sou Is of astronomers and laymen ali ke for 50 years to come.
Now other astronomers had seen linear markings on Mars prior to 1877, but never in such detail or in such numbers as Schiap'arelli reported. Opinion was soon divided into two camps. On the one hand, many professional astronomers who were excellent observers and had access to telescopes equal to or larger than Schiaparelli's did not see the fine lines and therefore simply denied that they existed. In the other camp, a few professional astronomers were joined by an army of fascinated amateurs. They unhesitantly accepted Schiaparelli's drawings, occasionally could even see the lines themselves and, perhaps more important, they enthusiastically accepted the implications of the mistranslation of canali into canals. Figure 4. A portion of Ciovanni Schiaparelli's Map of Mars.
time when Mars was in
them were seen England, and the United a
of a favorable opposition, the American astronomer Pickering found small dark spots at the intersections of canals which he termed "Oases." the following year, canals had been observed in the areas of ruling out once and for all the notion that the "mare" were in fact seas. A suggestion made five earlier in the AAAS publication Science) namely the dark areas were vegetation, now had a very important corollary for the canal advocates: the dark lines were not
but rather bands of nourished by much narrower invisible to our
distant earth-bound eyes. Some chose conduits to be natural channels or grooves in the surface, while others saw that their «geometrical perfection" and "obvious
was the final for intelligent beings at work Red Planet. himself avoided that final
but did come to to the
Figure 5. Diagram of the orbits of Mars and The most recent favorable opposition occurred on August 10, 1971, when the two planets were separated by 34,900,000 miles.
is in view. dose to Earth "most favorable
Mars comes these events Figure 6. Percival
portrait. (1855-1916). was
Figure 7. The young Percival Lowen at the 24-inch telescope in Flagstaff. Shown here making daytime observations of Venus. Note the tedious practice of alternate observations and drawings from atop a wooden "observer's ladder."
Figure 8. An older Lowell observing Venus by daylight with the 24-inch telescope. Note the more comfortable observer's position.
Figure 9. Reproduction of Lowell's fun-color map of Mars as it appeared in 1905.
Lowell's overall hypothesis in his book Mars in 1 remained essentially Inr'he>nrTt,i1 to the time of his death in 1916. To quote from him:
"We find, in the first place, that the broad physical conditions of the planet are not antagonistic to some form of life' secondly, that there is an apparent dearth of water upon the planet's surface and therefore if beings of sufficient intellige~ce inhabited it: they would have to resort to irrigation to support life; thirdly, that there turns out to be a network of markings covering the disk precisely counter-parting what a system of irrigation would look like; and, lastly, that there is a set of spots placed where we should expect to find the lands thus artificially fertilized, and behaving as such constructed oases should. All this, of course, may be a set of coincidences, signifying nothing; but the probability points the other way.,,2
The very first Mariner photograph of Mars would have been a devasting blow to Lowell. To try to determine where the canal watchers went wrong would be
Figure 10.
The Mars F uror Fades The Mars Furor reached its peak with the favorable
oppositions of 1907 and 1909, and then quickly faded from prominence. Lowell and his fellow Itcanalists" could do no more than state their claims over and over again. New canals were occasionally found, showing that the land-parched Martians were still feverishly at work but nothing essentially new could be added to counte~ the mounting attacks of the critics. Bitterness and personal attacks . now replaced the eloquence of the grand hypotheSIS. Lowell answered his foremost critic on the Continent, Antoniadi, by claiming that the French astronomer did not know how to observe planetary markings correctly and did not know the I imitations of the great refractor he enjoyed the use of.
In the United States, the 1909 volume of Science erupted with blistering attacks and counter charges precipated by Eliot Blackwelder's review 3 of Mars As the Abode Of Life.
The geologist's virulent attack of Lowell's view on planetology concluded that, "Censure can hardly be too severe upon a man who so unscrupulously deceives the educated public, merely in order to gai n a certain notoriety and a brief, but undeserved credence for his pet theories. "
The reaction of the general public to all of this can perhaps best be assessed by examining newspaper coverage. Beginning in 1877, press notices about Mars, both articles and editorials, were stimulated by the celestial periodicity of oppositions, modulated by the fickle forces of public enthusiasm. Consider, for example, what happened in the New York Times. (Figure 10. Graph of the number of articles dealing with Mars which appeared each year in the Times.)
At the far left, the most favorable opposition of 1877, the centenary of which we recently celebtated, brought forth the canali and the moons. For the next 15 years, enthusiasm for such topics was hardly spectacular. Then, the very favorable oppositions of 1892 and 1894 brought forth a second wave of attention, due in no small part to the appearance of Percival Lowell. With the turn of the century, every 2 years the opposition was duly noted-building to the watershed of the Mars Furor with t~e .very favorable oppositions of 1907 and 1909. The issue then headed towards quiet oblivion, only to have the pattern sporadically broken by intense, short-lived, surges of public interest. In 1916, Antoniadi's renewed objections and Lowell's death late in the year put the question to the public once again. In 1920, Marconi renewed the Furor by suggesti ng the "queer radio signals" simultaneously received in London and New York had Mars as their origin. This Martian use of "w~reless telegraphy" even drew a comment from Professor Einstein! (See Box)
New York Times, February 2, 1920,24:2 london, Jan. 31-Professor Albert Einstein, whose' theory that gravitation deflects the rays of light has recently been the subject of considerable discussion. ~n an interview with The Daily Mail's Berlin correspondent he asserts that he believes the mysterious signals referred to by Signor Marconi as having been heard on various wireless apparatus are due either to atmospheric disturbances or to experiments with other systems of wireless.
Professor Einstein, who believes that Mars and other planets are inhabited, added that if intelligent creatures on other planets tried to communicate with the earth he would expect them to use rays of light, which could be more easily controlled.
Scientists The and enthusiasm of 1
when apparent vindication of the canals implications seemed at hand, was rar,I"l,'ori
and slander in 1910. Two full page articles York Times illustrate the point. In early outlook was hopeful and full of· the expectations: "The Secrets of Mars May Revealed." But in 1910, the headlines read: Groping For Facts About Mars." "What the Fiery Planet Paid Us a Long Distance and Why Scientists Were Left in Bitter Warfare. turn of events was also accompanied by a near atmosphere, what baseball writers call the of those hot, late-August afternoons. For most favorable opposition date of
Figure 11. Full-page special article which appeared in York Times of Sunday, May 9, 1909.
New
Figure 12. Full-page special article which appeared in the New York Times on January 9, 1910.
approached, W. H. Pickering proposed a method of communicating with Mars which would employ a vast array of mirrors, at a mere cost of 10 million dollars. Newspapers in Fort Worth quickly offered to start the $10 million fund if Pickering would promise to locate the project in Texas. I n May, the New Aero Club offered its balloon to Amherst Professor David Todd to carry out his plan of receiving Martian wireless with airborne antennae, a view strongly supported electrical expert Tesla. If these comic-opera stunts seem ridiculous to us in 1908, they served the useful of keeping'Mars in the public eye between And Lowell, of c~urse, was not the J east bit to resort to the flamboyant when his was at stake. Marrying late in life, he and his bride spent part of their 1908 London honeymoon flying in a balloon high above
Park taking from space. commemorating the event, balloon, and recorded walkways in the Park.
18
artificial lines looked
Figure 15. Percival Lowen at the end of an era.
Enter ',,",.A 1"1- .. ,.,..orn."',,' It
relied more of water on
a disservice to and in to leave one with the
century astronomers from balloons @r
at 40 Nor did
In
newspaper accounts
to the debates: Lick
versus Lowell
identical
Second-
part:
The
one-fourth detected
aqueous vapor.
not our
that
"Marsenia has struck the fellows who are running the Big Lick telescope.
They have it bad.
According to them, Mars has no atmosphere at all, and consequently no life exists on that planet. This is symptom No.1.
Mars has no more atmosphere than the Moon. It is a dead world, of no more value than the state of Nevada which only su pports two Republican senators. Symptom No.2.
If Mars has an atmosphere, it is not one-quarter as extensive as that of Earth. Symptom No.3.
No 4 is, the atmosphere of Mars is so thin a man from the Earth would be discouraged if he tried to breathe it for a steady occupation.
Well then, who dug "them" canals on Mars?
To The Very Limit Notwithstanding the obvious humor of this insert in
Popular Astronomy, Campbell felt deeply frustrated at the misinterpretation alleging that he had found no water vapor on Mars. Of course, his actual conclusion did appear, taken out of context, in the fifth paragraph. In following years Campbell continually believed that some atmosphere did .exi:st, at first from his observations that the limb of the Martian disk was not absolutely sharp, and
then in the late twenties, from the very precise work of astronomers at Mount Wilson Observatory using the great telescopes and spectroscopic equipment available there. Campbell had set an upper limit to the amount of water vapor possible, based upon his inconclusive observations and his determination of the limiting sensitivity of the spectroscopic technique during the period he actively pursued the problem (1894-1910). He was still very satisified in the late twenties when the Mou nt Wilson astronomers reported their findings, which showed only a fraction of water vapor to exist, when compared to Campbell's limit of observation. This of course, did not Itdisprove" Campbell. In 1928, Campbell at last believed the problem to be solved and that water vapor .had at last been detected. He did not live long enough to learn that in 1963, a new generation of astronomers at Mount Wilson found that the 1928 values were 45 times too large 6
. and now Vi king has shown conclusively that these latest values are correct.
In retrospect, on this 100th anniversay of the "canali," one cannot help to notice how every important aspect of the Mars debate, from thin lines to spectral lines, centered on observations made at the very limit of detectability. Here, perhaps, is the lesson, the simple reason for the Furor. From Schiaparellj to Lowell to Marconi, these were all men who surely realized how questionable their discoveries would be. Their quick publication of such data was motivated by their obvious belief in the great significance of their findings. And, indeed, they would have been correct in that surmise-only their data failed them.
The ultimate issue raised by Lowell, the present existence of extraterrestrial intelligence, is of course a topic too awesome in scope to ever disappear from the public interest. It is, in fact, one of Lowell's great legacies to us, for Projects like Mariner and Viking, Osrna and Cyclops are surely adventures based, in part at least, upon the issues he raised and the expectations he awakened.
20
Figure 16.
Only the dream (tself remains, a of a proper ending.
References
V REl :::
story still in
1. w. G. Hoyt. Lowell and Mars (U. of Arizona Pr., 976).
2. P. Lowell, Mars (Macmillan, 1895). 3. E. Blackwelder. Review of Mars As The Abode Of
P. Lowell (Science 23, April 1909, p. 659). 4. W. W. Campbell. Publication of the Astronomical Society
the Pacific 6 (1894, p. 236). 5. Popular Astronomy 2 (1894-5, p. 92). 6. H. Spinrad, et. aL Astrophysical Journal 137 (1963,
1319). See also: D. H. DeVorkin. "w. W. Campbell's .o;.;:n""t,'n",'on,;"
of the Martian " Journal of
x Some After
Light by the Earth from Mars through the Martian atmosphere twice. The great encountered in trying to determine the content of Mars was that the Earth's own effectively masked the weaker Martian ('r'oY'Tnn.
Martian light has to pass also through atmosphere before it can be analysed by spectroscopic equipment. In 1902, Lowell and V. M. I
Slipher devised a method to separate the two spectra. Martian spectra were taken when Mars was at quadrature to the Sun (at right angles as seen from Earth) the velocity of the Earth (at position 1 1 the direction of Mars would be sufficient 18 km/sec) to separate the
from the Martian spectrum by approximately Angstrom. This very small Doppler shift of the two
spectra due to the radial velocities of their two planets was not enough to actually separate the two components of the Martian spectra, but Lowell believed that it would cause those lines common to the atmospheres of Earth and Mars to be broadened, relative to those unique to Earth or Mars. Between 1902 and 1905 Slipher could not detect any differential broadening. In 1910 Campbell "rediscovered" Lowell's method, but with the same inconclusive results-the shift was simply too small. The work at Mount Wilson in 1928 and 1963 essentially repeated this radial velocity technique) with the final results showing Mars to possess an extremely thin atmosphere, orders of magn itude below that supposed to exist by Lowell and his followers.
PHOTO CREDITS 1 .
Page 41 of The Exploration of Mars by Willy Ley and Wernher Von Braun. New York, The Vi king Press, 1956. Library of Congress #56-7596. Plate 1 and figure 3.
Figure 2. Opposite page 304 of Splendour of the Heavens, A Popular Authorative Astronomy, Ed. by Rev. T. E. R. Phillips and Dr. W. H. Steavenson, Volume 1. New York) Robert M. McBride & Co., 1925.
Figure 3. From D. Devorkin
4. Page 70 of the Exploration of Mars by Willy Ley and Wernher Von Braun, New York) The Viking Press, 1956. LCN 56-7596.
Figure 5. Page 3 of A Photographic History of Mars, 1905-1961 by E. C. Slipher. Published by the Lowell Observatory with the assistance of the Aeronautical Chart and Information Center) USAF, 1962. LCN #62-21'127.
6*. Page 88 of Lowell and Mars by William Graves Hoyt, University of Arizona Press, Tucson) Al. LCN #75-9144, 1976. Courtesy, Lowell Observatorv.
INFORMATION FOR
GENERAL INSTURCTIONS
7*. From the
Figure 8*.
Microfilm Archives.
Collection
Page 47 of Lowell and Mars Hoyt, University of Arizona LCN #75-9144, 1976. Observatory.
Figure 9. Opposite page 216 in Mars as the Percival Lowell. 1908. Company, New
Figure 10. Boston University
Figure 11. New York Times 3.
Figure 12. New York
Figure 13*. Page 235 of Hoyt.
Figure 14*. Opposite Percival
Figure 15*. Courtesy Lowell
Figure 16. CCSC Diagram.
January 9, 191
We wish to than k University Undergraduate Jeffrey Baumgardner, Boston Department, for their aspects of the illustrations needed for
pt.
All materials submitted will be considered. Contributions should relate to one or more of the following: planetarium activities and/or education, astronomy, or space sciences.
Articles, reports, planetarium programs, letters, technical comments, guest editorials, items of humor, and white) or selected planetarium facilities and general news relating to the planetarium/astronomy (This list is not all-inclusive.) The Planetarian will make the final decision as to appropriateness of material ''''''IT1ITH'(1
All material- shou Id be submitted directly to the Executive Editor. Contributors wi" be notified of acceptance, rejection, or need for revision within a reasonable period of time.
The manuscript should be typed free from errors, double-spaced, on 8 1/2 x 11" paper. Strikeovers and other markings are to be avoided. Use the first page to show the title, author's name, complete address, and exactly how the byline is appear. Begin the text on the second page. Place all legends for figures on a separate sheet at the end of the manuscript, enumerate in the text where each figure should be located. Place all tables in the manuscript in their appropriate locations.
Photographs must be black and white, on 8 x 10" glossy paper. DO NOT mark or label on photographs. referring to a part of a photograph should be indicated on a separate sheet or onion-skin overlay.
Line drawings, charts, and similar drawings (excluding halftones) should be drawn with dense black ink with a high carbon content. If only printed copies are available they must be equal to the above "n~·(';tl('''i"""n<:
duplicated on electro-static type duplicators are not acceptable. DO NOT SUBM IT COLOR WOR K of REFERENCES should appear in the body of the manuscript by the Author's last name and the of the publication;
(Nelson, 1972), with full references listed alphabetically at the conclusion of the manuscript, giving author's name, year, publication, volume, number and page(s). Example: Nelson, Arnold, 1972. Distance Concepts in Astronomy. Planetarian 1, No.2, 56-58.
How To Assemble Space Station-Island One
Brian Sullivan Production Designer Flandrau ·Planetarium Tuscon, Arizona
For over a year I've been publishing articles in astronomical magazines on various visual effects I had achieved at the Flandrau Planetarium in Tucson, Airzona. Thanks to Dennis Mammana, our staff astronomer, it suddenly occurred to me that the articles I have created could benefit other planetariums as well. Being a Production Designer, I always try to find improvements to be made on visual impact for planetarium audiences. For the September issue of Odyssey Magazine, I published an article on a new type of visual that is cheap, easy to
Figure 1 Space Station, Island One
22
assemble, and can look very convincing to a audience.
During the Spring of 1979, the staff of Flandrau Planetarium produced a show called "Lightquest." The Star Show needed a "ring"-type Space Station visual that housed working engineers and scientists in low Earth orbit. This assignment called for a three-dimensional model. Working in planetariums, it is a continuous curse that there is never enough time and/or money to create what a show sometimes needs, so the term "Shoestring
Figure 2 Size Comparison
Figure 3 Cutting the Ice Cream lid with Compass R.<lzor
Figure 4 Complete Assembly of Hub, Rods, and Lid
Figure 5 Tiny Detail Detail Connected to Exterior of Space Station, Island One
Budget" comes into play. The model project was called Space Station-Island One. To build it you will need the following items:
-Round plastic lid from a quart-size ice cream container.
-Large compass with razor edge.
-Wire coat hanger.
-Wire cutters.
-Exact-o knife.
-One can of flat black spray paint.
-One can of Battleship Gray spray paint.
-One tube of superglue.
-A few small model kits of battleships and tan ks to cannibalize for exterior detai I.
1. By using the compass, cut out the center disc of the plastic from the ice cream lid (or you can use an Exact-O knife).
2. Take the Exact-o knife and cut four 1/16" diameter holes in the inside wall of the lid. Space each hole 90 degrees apart from each other.
3.
4.
Next, take the wire cutters and cut three" pieces from the wire coat hanger. Make the first piece six inches long; the other two, three inches in length.
For the central Hub of Island One, take a 1/2 inch piece of plastic tube (in my case, I used a space
telescope piece from an AIRFIX Space Shuttle and by using your Exact-o knife, cut four 1/1 diameter holes in the side of the Hub. Make each hole 90 degrees from the center.
5. Take your six-inch rod of coat hanger and through two of the opposite holes in the Position the Hub in the hanger's center.
6. Connect the six-inch rod inside the ice cream lid. Place it between two of the four opposite holes.
7. Next, connect the remaining three-inch rods between the Hub and the interior of the ice cream lid.
8. This step is where your imagination can run free. By using what plastic model kits you have to cannibalize, you can create a very convincing space station model with tiny detail around the hub.
9. Because plastic sheets are sometimes hard to get, this step isn't really necessary, but if you are able to get a thin sheet of plastic just cut a ring, the same size of the ice cream lid, with your razor compass. Glue the plastic ring on the backside of the lid with superglue for a strong sturdy structure.
'10. When your assembly is complete spray the model with flat black spray paint. This is to prevent any stray light coming through your model's semi-transparent pieces. When the coat is dry, spray three coats of Battleship Gray spray paint.
figure 6 Complete Model Assembly Ready for Paint
When the final coat
a real dramatic close to the axis of the When the
it which verifies of the ancient astronomer.
"",..",norTe that firmament will become the time of Hadrian." he
astronomical who may be trusted.
order and
mathematician and not we have to
to create
Jane P. Geohegan, 4100 West Grace Street, Richmond, Virginia 23230
El5lla[5]I(§l5iI9l5iil5i (9[§ (9 l5il5i [§[§[§[§(5i[§I§[§[§[§[§[§[§[§ [§ [§[§(§[§[i1I5i' Jim Hooks, I PS Chief, wants planetariums to receive
national recognition. Some evidence is in that the goal is closer than we think. Well, sort of. Consider:
Trudeau's "Doonesbury" comic strip of July 9, in which Governor Brown's Press Secretary is saying on the phone: " ... and tell those clowns up in Sacramento that Jerry's serious about his planetarium appropriations bill!" Or: a February, 1980 episode of the TV show, "WKRP in Cincinatti" as reported by Planetarian John Wharton of Kirkpatrick Planetarium in Oklahoma City: Les Nessman, the station's Casper Mi Iquetoast newscaster and hog expert, had a groupie who was hot on his trail. They finally had: their first date, and the scene opened with them/back at his apartment ...
Girl: Les, you sure know how to show a girl a good time!
Les: Yes, I always like the planetarium. Girl (scooting closer): Oh, Les! You really knowwhat
turns a woman on!
John suggests that Les may have to become our national spokesman. Sorry, Jim!
In previous colutms, I have described the psychological characteristics (celestruphobia-fear of the real sky), visible accouterments (styrofoam balls carried in attache case), and social behavior (seeks out relationships with fellow "domebodies," i.e.; those who prefer hemispherical housing environments) of the shy and elusive specie known as planetarian. In all these endeavors, I have been trying to capture the essence of planetariu mism from personal observations, and fran kly, it's been a lonely surveillance. In the Autumn, 1979 issue of the Planetarian I finally hit a nerve. Someone responded. Several someones, in fact. And now we know. Despite his exotic and peculiar behavior, the planetarian's authentic being, underneath itall, is as a poet. A poet, or as D'israeli said: "a nightingale who sits in darkness and sings to cheer its own solitude with sweet sounds."
In the April, 1980 Astronomy magazine, the ((Sidewalk Astronomer of San Francisco," John Dobson, said: Ii ••• 1 made a telescope and when I looked at the Moon through the thing I thought, 'Oh, my God, everybody has to see this!' " A poet. Seeing something and wanting others to see it too. And that's the bottom line. That's what we do. If we can't express it ourselves, we find out who can.
John Wharton found this: The stars Reach out to touch The heavens, and their beams Create the lurrinous beauty Of night.
-Nancy Crowe
Duncan Teague and Julia Nichols of Craigmont Planetarium in Memphis share the following:
A man said to the universe: "Sir, I exist!" ((However," replied the universe, "The fact has not created in me A sense of obligation."
-Stephen Crane, from War is Kind
And John Mosley, at the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles suggested these: For of Meridians, and Parallels, Man hath weav'd out a net, and this net throwne Upon the Heavens, and Now they are his owne.
-John Donne, from "Of the Progress of the Soule"
"Arthur: It's all closing in on me. What can I do? "Merlyn: Seek knowledge, Wart!
Read-wonder-thin k-question-wonder-dream. Study sciences and languages, mathematics and alchemy, battlements and art. Take a season on politics and a lifetime on the forest creatures, chivalry, and grammar. Then when it is done, spend a month on the games, a decade on cryptology, a generation on geography, a score and five on poetry, a century on mythology-and a millenium on the stars!"
- T. H. White, The Once and Future King
... 1 seem to have stood a long time and watched the stars pass.
They also shall perish I believe. Here today, gone tomorrow, desperate wee galaxies Scattering themselves and shining their substance away Like a passionate thought. It is very well ordered.
-Robinson Jeffers, "Margrave"
My quest is over. I have finally found it: the "right stuff" of a planetarian.
Ewe Lemmer, a German planetarian sent this one in:
One night there was a phone call at the satellite tracking station in Bochum A person was reporting seeing a UFO. There was only a technician on duty at the time to receive the call. "What does the UFO look like?" the technician asked. The person answered that it looked like a moving point of light and that "it sounds like a drilling machine." leAh!" said the technician, "Then what you saw is a flying drilling machine!" There was a click on the telephone.
That's the difference between an astronomer and a technican. The astronomer would have talked about life in the universe, interstellar space travel and relativity to explain that there are no U Fa's from ~ outer space. The technician used~amore simple explanation!
