Return-path: X-Andrew-Authenticated-as: 7997;andrew.cmu.edu;Ted Anderson Received: from corsica.andrew.cmu.edu via trymail for +dist+/afs/andrew.cmu.edu/usr1/ota/space/space.dl@andrew.cmu.edu (->+dist+/afs/andrew.cmu.edu/usr1/ota/space/space.dl) (->ota+space.digests) ID ; Thu, 7 Sep 89 00:23:21 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: <0Z1Soh200UkVA2GE5P@andrew.cmu.edu> Reply-To: space+@Andrew.CMU.EDU From: space-request+@Andrew.CMU.EDU To: space+@Andrew.CMU.EDU Date: Thu, 7 Sep 89 00:23:10 -0400 (EDT) Subject: SPACE Digest V10 #26 SPACE Digest Volume 10 : Issue 26 Today's Topics: CRESCENT MOON - THU 31 AUG '89 - SAFAR 1410, THE 2nd ISLAMIC MONTH. Post- PRINTStar Wars Re: Exotic Thrusters (was Re: Where the hell are electric...) Party excuse Re: solar orbiting probes ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 30 Aug 89 05:22:27 GMT From: dasys1!mohib@nyu.edu (Mohib) Subject: CRESCENT MOON - THU 31 AUG '89 - SAFAR 1410, THE 2nd ISLAMIC MONTH. Standard Disclaimer ** The info is independent of Columbia Univ ** Followup on Atmospheric Optics to: Sci.physics Followup on Astronomy to: Sci.astro Followup on Space to: Sci.space Replies to: mnd@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu Bismillah hir-Rahman nir-Rahim ( I begin with the name of ALLAH, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful ) THE MUSLIM STUDENTS' ASSOCIATION (MSA) of COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY 102 Earl Hall, Columbia University, NEW YORK, N.Y. 10027 SUBJECT: CRESCENT MOON: FIRST VISIBILITY (every lunar month) ************************************************************** NEXT CRESCENT (NEW) MOON, HILAL: Thu 31 AUG 1989, evening (*) for the 2nd. Islamic Month of SAFAR, 1410, the month starting - most probably - on Sat 2 October 1989, for USA-CANADA and S.America. It is IMPOSSIBLE for the Crescent Moon to be visible on Wed 30 Aug 1989, worldwide. For more info. see postings in Soc.culture.african, ..arabic, ..turkish. (*) Hilal (crescent) sightings would be in the evenings, at least 10 minutes after sunset, usually before 20 minutes, and upto 40 to 90 minutes after sunset; near and along the sun's path. We are conducting research/survey on the recorded WORLD-WIDE first sightings of the "CRESCENT MOON, FIRST VISIBILITY" in the evenings, for every lunar month. Some TECHNICAL INFO. is at the end. PHOTOGRAPHS / SLIDES ARE MOST WELCOME since they are very helpful in the research. Please also pass on the request to your friends who are interested in astronomy/physics and to your local amateur astronomy associations. We would very much like to hear from you. Please respond either by email or by letter. The survey results are to enhance the present ATMOSPHERIC MODEL and fine tune some parameters regarding SCATTERING/VISION. When reporting actual Crescent-Hilal sightings, (even if you do not see it) PLEASE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: HILAL was visible to naked eye?......... Hilal sighted in binoculars?......... EXACT TIMES: Complete Sunset at......... Hilal First Visible....... End....... HEIGHT-Degrees: Hilal highest........... Hilal lowest (faded/set)............. ORIENTATION: Ends of Hilal Curve: Start at.......'O Clock:End at.....'O Clock (Right is 3'O Clock:Bottom is 6'O Clock: Left is 9'O Clock: Top is 12'O Clock) WEATHER condition: Rel.Humidity......... Temperature..... Pressure............ Sky near western horizon: Clear?........ Hazy?........... Cloudy?............. OBSERVER: Age.... Eyesight: Glasses?.... Far sighted?.... Near sighted?....... Name....................... Date........ Location............................. Thanks. Email to: mnd@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Dr.Mohib.N.Durrani) Mail: Dr.Mohib.N.Durrani Islamic Amateur Astronomers Association (Research Division) 601 West 113 Street, Suite 11-K Columbia University NEW YORK, N.Y. 10025 United States of America ***************************************************************************** Some ORBITAL details for the SUN and MOON: Lunation No.: 825 NEW MOON (not crescent visible moon): 1989 August 31d 05h 44m UT (Universal Time), Thursday (Universal Time, i.e. mean solar time on the meridian of Greenwich) EQUATORIAL coords.(0h UT) ECLIPTIC coords.(for 0h UT) Date Sun Sun MOON MOON Sun MOON MOON MOON AUG/SEP R.A. Decl. R.A. Decl. Long. Long. Lat. true Elong '89 Alpha Delta Alpha Delta Lambda Lambda Beta from Sun hr deg hr deg deg deg deg deg *31 Th 10.63 8.66 10.44 8.90 157.72 155.01 -0.83 W 3 1 Fr 10.69 8.31 11.17 3.30 158.69 167.20 -1.91 E 9 2 Sa 10.75 7.94 11.88 -2.35 159.66 179.24 -2.89 E 20 ***************************************************************************** 1989 AUGUST 31 (Thu) evening Event times are approximate 1410 SAFAR ( 2nd Islamic Month) Civil - clock - Standard times (nearest) (+N,-S) (W) SUN MOON At-Sunset Unaided-Eye CITY LAT LONG SET SET AGE-MOON SIGHTING ************* deg deg h m h m h m ********** MAKKAH-S.Arab 20 320 18 36 18 42 9 52 IMPOSSIBLE MOSCOW - USSR 56 320 19 17 19 06 10 33 IMPOSSIBLE CAIRO - Egypt 30 330 18 24 18 28 10 40 IMPOSSIBLE ISTANBUL-Turk 40 330 18 34 18 33 10 50 IMPOSSIBLE CAPETOWN-S.Af -35 340 17 21 17 42 10 37 IMPOSSIBLE LAGOS-Nigeria 10 355 17 50 18 02 12 06 DIFFICULT % GREENWICH-Engl 50 0 18 46 18 42 13 02 IMPOSSIBLE DAKAR-Senegal 10 20 18 30 18 45 13 46 DIFFICULT RIO DeJENEIRO -20 45 17 51 18 18 15 07 PROBABLE PARAMARIBO-Suri 0 55 17 44 18 05 16 00 PROBABLE BUNOS ARESarg -35 60 17 41 18 14 15 57 PROBABLE LIMA-Peru S.A -10 80 18 18 18 46 17 34 PROBABLE % (add 1 hr to event time, during summer DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME, from early April to end of October) For most of these cities (Mecca-Lima) the Cresent would most probably be visible on the evening of Sat 2 September 1989 for the northern cities, and on the evening of Fri 1 September 1989 for the southern cities. ***************************************************************************** 1989 AUGUST 31 (Thu) evening Event times are approximate 1410 SAFAR ( 2nd Islamic Month) Civil - clock - Standard times (nearest) (+N,-S) (W) SUN MOON At-Sunset Unaided-Eye CITY LAT LONG SET SET AGE-MOON SIGHTING ************* deg deg h m h m h m ********** % HALIFAX -CNDA 44 65 18 58 19 00 17 14 IMPOSSIBLE % NEW YORK -USA 40 75 18 34 18 39 17 50 IMPOSSIBLE % JACKSONVIL-Fl 30 80 18 44 18 56 18 00 DIFFICULT % SAN DIEGO-USA 35 115 18 09 18 20 20 25 DIFFICULT % SAN FRANCISCO 40 120 18 34 18 42 20 50 DIFFICULT % VANCOUVER-CND 50 125 19 06 19 06 21 22 IMPOSSIBLE % ANCHORAGE-Als 62 150 19 13 18 52 23 29 IMPOSSIBLE % HONOLULU -Hwi 20 160 17 56 18 20 23 12 PROBABLE % (add 1 hr to event time, for summer DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME, from early April to end of October) When the CRESCENT is visible - in the evening - anywhere from Halifax, New York, Jacksonville, San Diego, San Francisco, to Vancouver, then in the USA-CANADA the next Islamic month of Safar would start. (INCREASE date one day, if crossing EAST TO WEST) ###################### INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE ###################### (DECREASE date one day, if crossing WEST TO EAST) 1989 AUGUST 31 (Thu) evening Event times are approximate 1410 SAFAR ( 2nd Islamic Month) Civil - clock - Standard times (nearest) (+N,-S) (W) SUN MOON At-Sunset Unaided-Eye CITY LAT LONG SET SET AGE-MOON SIGHTING ************* deg deg h m h m h m ********** SYDNEY-Austra -35 210 17 41 17 41 1 57 IMPOSSIBLE TOKYO - Japan 35 220 18 09 18 03 3 25 IMPOSSIBLE PEKING -China 40 245 18 54 18 48 5 10 IMPOSSIBLE JAKARTA-Indon -10 250 17 38 17 42 4 54 IMPOSSIBLE DHAKA -B.Desh 20 270 18 16 18 18 6 32 IMPOSSIBLE AGRA - India 30 280 18 04 18 04 7 20 IMPOSSIBLE PESHAWAR -Pak 35 290 18 49 18 47 8 05 IMPOSSIBLE BUKHARA -USSR 40 295 18 14 18 11 8 30 IMPOSSIBLE TEHRAN - Iran 35 310 18 19 18 19 9 25 IMPOSSIBLE For all of these cities (Sidney-Tehran) The Crescent would NOT be Visible on Thu 31 August 1989. ***************************************************************************** Please note that the Islamic dates start from Sundown of a previous day. ***************************************************************************** ISLAMIC GREGORIAN MOON - MOON - MOON - MOON - MOON Sun - EARTH YEAR YEAR NEW MOON MOON-PERIGEE MOON-APOGEE MONTHS LUNA. (NOT visible) (nearest) (farthest) NO. (All times are in UT = Universal Time) 1410 1989 d h m d h d h d h 1 MUHARAM 824 AUG 1 16 06 JUL 23 07 AUG 7 15 * 2 SAFR 825 AUG 31 05 44 AUG 19 12 SEP 4 08 SEP 23 01 Equinox 3 RABI-I 826 SEP 29 21 47 SEP 16 15 OCT 1 20 4 RABI-II 827 OCT 29 15 27 OCT 15 01 OCT 28 22 5 JUMA-I 828 NOV 28 09 41 NOV 12 13 NOV 25 04 6 JUMA-II 829 DEC 28 03 20 DEC 10 23 DEC 22 19 DEC 21 21 Solstice ***************************************************************************** Perihelion = Earth Closest to Sun (Sun moving FASTEST in sky-Jan 1) Equinox = Earth has Equal Daylight and Darkness (Mar 20 & Sept 22) Solstice = Sun apparantly Stationary in Declination (Maximum of Summer-June 21 OR Minimum of Winter-Dec 21) Aphelion = Earth Farthest from Sun (Sun moving SLOWEST in sky-Jul 4) Perigee = Moon Closest to Earth (Moon moving FASTEST in sky) Apogee = Moon Farthest from Earth (Moon moving SLOWEST in sky) **************************************************************************** **************************************************************************** APPROXIMATIONS TO DIRECTION OF KA'BA (MAKKAH Saudi Arabia) In most places of the UNITED STATES of AMERICA, an APPROXIMATION to the direction of KA'BA, to determine the direction of Salat (prayers), can be obtained by noting the direction of your shadow near the time of Sunset. The direction in which your shadow goes is usually a little north of east DURING WINTER. This is the direction in which salat can be performed, as an approximation. This direction of the shadow changes during the different months of the year but is a good approximation when there is no magnetic compass to determine the exact direction. During summer, the shadow goes south of east and hence we would have to turn further north from the shadow, i.e. further to the left of the shadow. For locations in the West of America the direction is even further North from the shadow, i.e. even further to the left of the shadow. Technical details will be posted shortly, inshallah (God Willing). **************************************************************************** Copyright Dr.M.N.Durrani, 1989 Permission to copy for free distribution is granted to all, please do give credit and reference. Thanks For further information, please feel free to contact: Mail: Dr.Mohib.N.Durrani Islamic Amateur Astronomers Association (Research Division) 601 West 113 Street, Suite 11-K Columbia University NEW YORK, N.Y. 10025 United States of America Email to: mnd@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Mohib.N.Durrani) ***************************** End of Document ****************************** -- Mohib N Durrani Big Electric Cat Public UNIX ..!cmcl2!{ccnysci,cucard,hombre}!dasys1!mohib ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 30 Aug 89 08:58:07 PDT From: greer%utd201.dnet%utadnx@utspan.span.nasa.gov X-Vmsmail-To: SPAN::AMES::"space+@andrew.cmu.edu" Subject: Post- PRINTStar Wars Anybody out there have any idea how long near-Earth space would be uninhabitable after activation of an ICBM Shield? I'm talking mainly about debris left behind by things like kinetic-kill weapons, destruction of orbiting battle stations by ASATs, explosion of neutron bombs (for decoy discrimination), etc. Has anyone done any environmental impact studies of this, or do the SDI people assume a) nobody's going into space for a long time after a nuclear war anyway or b) it's a small price to pay for national security, or what? Just curious. ---- "That which you call, | Dale M. Greer 'E Plabnista...'" | Center for Space Sciences -- J.T. Kirk | University of Texas at Dallas | UTSPAN::UTADNX::UTDSSA::GREER The opinions are my own, and may or may not reflect those of my employer. ------------------------------ Date: 30 Aug 89 14:26:58 GMT From: usc!henry.jpl.nasa.gov!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!jpl-devvax!leem@apple.com (Lee Mellinger) Subject: Re: Exotic Thrusters (was Re: Where the hell are electric...) In article <4280@utastro.UUCP> terry@astro.UUCP (Terry Hancock) writes: :In article <6097@lynx.UUCP> neal@lynx.UUCP (Neal Woodall) writes: :>In article <1989Aug29.124837.23692@cs.rochester.edu> dietz@cs.rochester.edu.UUCP (Paul Dietz) writes: :> :>This answers one of the questions I posted just minutes ago. Thanx. :> :>>Perhaps he was thinking of a magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) engine. :> :>Please, some details!! Perhaps we can start a thread on "exotic" thrusters :>which would be good for the next generation of planetary probes. I am :> :>Neal : : By the way, I appreciate that many people noticed I said that :Cesium is radioactive. It's not. I was thinking, I believe, of :radioactive isotopes of cesium which are the only forms of it I've :ever heard of being used (some sort of radioactive tracer, I think). :What else is it used for, by the way? : :Terry Hancock Ionized cesium is also used for atomic time standards. Lee "I'm the NRA" "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Benjamin Franklin 1759 |Lee F. Mellinger Caltech/Jet Propulsion Laboratory - NASA |4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109 818/393-0516 FTS 977-0516 |{ames!cit-vax,}!elroy!jpl-devvax!leem leem@jpl-devvax.JPL.NASA.GOV ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 30 Aug 89 09:27:11 PDT From: Peter Scott Subject: Party excuse If you want a *really* good excuse for a party, Pluto reaches perihelion on September 5. Since this only happens every 248 years, the party should be spectacular. Peter Scott (pjs@grouch.jpl.nasa.gov) ------------------------------ Date: 30 Aug 89 14:22:06 GMT From: cs.utexas.edu!usc!henry.jpl.nasa.gov!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!jpl-devvax!leem@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu (Lee Mellinger) Subject: Re: solar orbiting probes In article <1052@electro.UUCP> ignac@electro.UUCP (Ignac Kolenko) writes: : :just wondering: i remember back in the early 60's some of the initial :attempts at putting something (or should i say, crashing something) on the :moon failed, and the probes ended up in solar orbit. has anyone launched :a probe that purposely ended up in solar orbit to study the sun?? would :there be any benefit to doing so rather than keeping the probe in orbit :around the earth (ie: solar max mission)?? :by the way, what's the oldest probe/satellite that we still have contact :with?? anything from the 60's still communicating?? :and now we return you to reality ... :=====Ignac A. Kolenko (The Ig) watmath!watcgl!electro!ignac===== There were three spacecraft sent up to monitor the sun, Helios I and II, a joint US/West German project (Helios I, the last working, was shut down about 3-4 years ago), and Solar Max. Pioneer 6 is still working, it gets tracked by the DSN about once a year. Pioneers 8,9,10, and 11 are all still functioning and are tracked periodically, especially 10 and 11 as they are currently the spacecraft the farthest out. The Voyagers will pass them, relatively soon if I remember correctly. Lee "I'm the NRA" "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Benjamin Franklin 1759 |Lee F. Mellinger Caltech/Jet Propulsion Laboratory - NASA |4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109 818/393-0516 FTS 977-0516 |{ames!cit-vax,}!elroy!jpl-devvax!leem leem@jpl-devvax.JPL.NASA.GOV ------------------------------ End of SPACE Digest V10 #26 *******************