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Space and Astronomy

Uh oh! Earth and Saturn are head to head as the number one planet in our planets ratings! Are Saturn's rings just too cool for us Earthlings? Cast your rating for all space and astronomy related topics here.

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5 days ago

Boötes is a rather obscure Northern constellation, meaning ox-driver (literally), herdsman, or plowman. What is significant about this constellation is that Arcturus, the third (some insist it's the forth) brightest star in the night skies, after Sirius and Canopus (and Alpha Centauri?), can be found here...and it has quite the amazing history with Earth. This can win you a bet.

What is the only star used to light-up a World's Fair?

Arcturus is nearly 40 light years from Earth. In 1893, Chicago hosted a World's Fair. Forty years later, they hosted another: the "A Century of Progress International Exposition". (Someone thought it was cool that the light arriving at the '33 World's Fair had left the star at approximately the same time as the '93 World's Fair.) Some time in between, the Elgin National Watch Company (or so I was told) devised photo electronic cells that gathered light from Arcturus at various observatories, which was sent to Chicago and transformed into the electricity which was used to power-on the lights at the Fair! And just in the nick of time, as this Red Giant (approx 25 times larger than our Sun) is at the relative end of its life, having ceased fusion of hydrogen in its core and will fade from view in around 500,000 years.

In astronomical terms, that was a close call.

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22 days ago

Well, if you go there, you have to deal with this little bastard and his unsavory friends. Fortunately there are watchdogs looking out for global security and the evil influences upon the recently elected U.S. President

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22 days ago

The worst part about living here is everybody sniggering and making Grade seven level jokes when you mention the name of the place.
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22 days ago

If I go, I'll be sure to bring back plenty of candy bars!
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22 days ago

I heard the rings were its biggest attractions.
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22 days ago

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138 days ago

The uniqueness of The Earth is not something most people think much about. But they should. While many are hunting the Solar System looking for life, in distant galaxies there are problems that abound. Consider:

(1) The Earth has just the correct orbit to support life. Many other planets not only are too hot, too cold, have poisonous gas atmospheres, but even the axis of the Earth that allows for the proper symbiotic relationship with The Moon is essential for life as we know it.

(2)Far more than just water is needed for life. Certain types of Elliptical orbits are also a problem for many planets in far away galaxies as well making some overly cold then overly hot. If Earth at 93 million miles from The Sun were only one percent closer or farther from The Sun life as we know it would cease to be. TV Newscasters like to give the impression that as long as water is available, life can begin, but things are not that simplistic in reality due to factors such as those cited above and many others.

(3) Mars, often cited as the planet most Earth like, yet here too are huge problems as well with flattened poles at the North and South Pole. Mars is also incredibly dry and has been the last 3,700,000,000 years.
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165 days ago

The first planet to ever be taken out of production, unless you count the Meteor.
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165 days ago

Review Icon GoinDownSlow reviewed Uranus in Planets:
Unless they open up a jump school, run by Russian hookers, have a Harley dealership that doesn't charge the equivilent of the AIG bailout per hour and eliminate any mention of Al Gore, my interest in this planetary orrafice is right up there with men's thongs and dancing in drag to any Bette Midler song. Cher...maybe.

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165 days ago

What an unfortunate name for a planet...

UPDATE: What about the bumper sticker on the Winnebago in Spaceballs?
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