Return-path: X-Andrew-Authenticated-as: 7997;andrew.cmu.edu;Ted Anderson Received: from hogtown.andrew.cmu.edu via trymail for +dist+/afs/andrew.cmu.edu/usr11/tm2b/space/space.dl@andrew.cmu.edu (->+dist+/afs/andrew.cmu.edu/usr11/tm2b/space/space.dl) (->ota+space.digests) ID ; Wed, 20 Mar 91 01:47:24 -0500 (EST) Message-ID: Precedence: junk Reply-To: space+@Andrew.CMU.EDU From: space-request+@Andrew.CMU.EDU To: space+@Andrew.CMU.EDU Date: Wed, 20 Mar 91 01:47:18 -0500 (EST) Subject: SPACE Digest V13 #281 SPACE Digest Volume 13 : Issue 281 Today's Topics: Re: Three-Letter Acronym (TLA) Update Program (UP) feynman and O-Rings Re: He3 on Moon? Re: German conference highlights doubts about ESA's manned space plans Space Conference CRESCENT MOON SIGHTING - Sat 16 March 1991 Administrivia: Submissions to the SPACE Digest/sci.space should be mailed to space+@andrew.cmu.edu. Other mail, esp. [un]subscription requests, should be sent to space-request+@andrew.cmu.edu, or, if urgent, to tm2b+@andrew.cmu.edu ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 11 Mar 91 21:06:33 GMT From: think.com!samsung!usc!wuarchive!rex!rouge!dlbres10@ames.arc.nasa.gov (Fraering Philip) Subject: Re: Three-Letter Acronym (TLA) Update Program (UP) I'd like to add a couple: SSX: Space Ship eXperimental. CELSS: Closed Ecological Life Support System. Also, abort to orbit might mean they go to orbit limping along on two engines and do the mission. (Or so I've heard). Phil Fraering dlbres10@pc.usl.edu ------------------------------ Date: 14 Mar 91 21:09:16 GMT From: wrdis01!nstn.ns.ca!IRIS1.UCIS.Dal.Ca!roberts@gatech.edu (Greg Roberts) Subject: feynman and O-Rings Aaaah, I seem to have struck a nerve with my comments about Armstrong here. Let me explain. Contrary to some beliefs, I am not annoyed at not being an astronaut, quite the opposite. My remarks are directed towards Armstrong in the way that he deals with problems. Mr. Armstrong is a bright person, but can be very hard to convince other people to see other points of view once he has made up his mind. I attended Northrop University, Armstrong was a speaker, and I know many people who have known him for many years going back to his test pilot days. The Director of Northrop for one. Armstrong was the one who said the least during the hearings, seemed to contribute the least, and seemed the hardest to convince about what Feynman was doing. All in all, while he may have been the first man to walk on the moon...... Not being snotty, just a point of view. If you don't like it, tough. ------------------------------ Date: 14 Mar 91 21:37:45 GMT From: news-server.csri.toronto.edu!utzoo!henry@rutgers.edu (Henry Spencer) Subject: Re: He3 on Moon? In article <1991Mar13.214357.28899@mailer.cc.fsu.edu> cain@geomag.gly.fsu.edu (Joe Cain) writes: >Does anyone know the origin of the weird sounding article that just >appeared in the March 15 "Washington Spectator?" It's for real. The solar-wind gases trapped in the lunar regolith contain a noticeable amount of He3, an isotope that is essentially nonexistent on Earth. (Earth's helium is alpha particles from radioactive decay, and that gives He4, not He3.) Getting large amounts of it out of the regolith is a big job but not fundamentally difficult. If and when fusion power becomes practical in a big way on Earth, He3 will be a very desirable fusion fuel because the D-He3 reaction produces very few neutrons. -- "But this *is* the simplified version | Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology for the general public." -S. Harris | henry@zoo.toronto.edu utzoo!henry ------------------------------ Date: 11 Mar 91 16:56:26 GMT From: pasteur!agate!bionet!uwm.edu!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!usenet@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU (Doug McDonald) Subject: Re: German conference highlights doubts about ESA's manned space plans In article <1991Mar11.165626.25181@zoo.toronto.edu> kcarroll@zoo.toronto.edu (Kieran A. Carroll) writes: > >All those satellites that we've seen fail on orbit, including the ones that >the Shuttle was sent up to repair, were designed by people who tried >to ``make sure that it works'' befoire launch. Many of the people involved >in design of these are very smart, and very conscientious, probably more so >than you and I. No comment. > Satellites don't typically fail because of sloppy design or >construction. They fail because >nobody< can imagine beforehand >all< the things >that might go wrong with a complicated, custom-built device. > True but irrelevant!!!! Most fatal problems are so simple that they CAN be expected! I certainly can imagine that a Viton O-Ring exposed to very high sudden load changes would fail if cooled to 20 degrees F before use!!! It is blatently obvious to anybody who either hs USED them - or to anybody who reads the blurb sheets on O-Rings published by the Parker Co. I certainly can imagine that if you fail to test the components of a Cassegrain telescope together that you risk having problems. Examples of something that might be beyond guessing beforehand is the sunlight induced jitter problem in the Hubble. Doug McDonald ------------------------------ Date: 13 Mar 91 15:07:51 GMT From: mcsun!ukc!edcastle!hwcs!sfleming@uunet.uu.net (Stewart T. Fleming) Subject: Space Conference There was some discussion in this group a while back about the use of so-called "waverider" technology to enable atmospheric planetary encounters. This is among the topics discussed at PARSEC : Pro Amateur Rocketry and Spaceflight Conference, part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival (1-14 April 1991). Abstract This one day conference for those carrying out practical research into space exploration as well as students and their teachers, scientists and engineers, is the first conference to reflect the growing role of private ventures and "amateur" groups in space exploration. Subjects covered include Waverider re-entry, solar-sail spacecraft developments and small-scale rocket research and applications. Organised jointly by STAAR Research and Space School. 6th April 1991 10am-6pm Entry GBP 15 ------ A wide range of space and astronomical subjects are covered during the Festival fortnight. Information is available from : Science Festival Box Office, c/o Fringe Office, 180 High Street, EDINBURGH, UK Telephone : (44)-31-226-5138 Accomodation and tourist booking information : Edinburgh Tourist Centre Voice: (44)-31-557-1700 FAX: 031-557-5118 STF -- sfleming@cs.hw.ac.uk ...ukc!cs.hw.ac.uk!sfleming "Every political/monetary/computer system is doomed to collapse; the trick is not being there when it happens." ------------------------------ Date: 15 Mar 91 05:33:55 GMT From: swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!cunixf.cc.columbia.edu!cunixb.cc.columbia.edu!mnd@ucsd.edu (Mohib N Durrani) Subject: CRESCENT MOON SIGHTING - Sat 16 March 1991 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: Sat 16 MAR 1991, evening (*) for the 9th. Islamic Month of RAMADAN, 1411 AH, the month starting - probably - on Sun 17 March, 1991, for USA-CANADA and S.America. It is IMPOSSIBLE for the Crescent Moon to be visible on evening of Fri 15 Mar 1991, worldwide. See also postings in Soc.culture.african, ..arabic, ..turkish for the significance of the Islamic month of RAMADAN. It is obligatory to FAST and give ALMS during this month. (*) 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. WORLD RECORD: "THE YOUNGEST NAKED-EYE CRESCENT MOON SIGHTING" "BADAT & AL-THANI SIGHTING": 13 hrs 24 min after New Moon Phase Friday 5 May 1989 from Houston, Texas, USA Ref: Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Vol 83/3, Pages 34-36 Newsletter/Bulletin, June 1989 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.: 844 NEW MOON (not crescent visible moon): 1991 March 16d 08h 10m UT (Universal Time), Saturday. (Universal Time, i.e. mean solar time on the meridian of Greenwich) EQUATORIAL coords.(at 0h UT) ECLIPTIC coords.(at 0h UT) Date Sun Sun MOON MOON Sun MOON MOON MOON MAR R.A. Decl. R.A. Decl. Long. Long. Lat. true Elong '91 Alpha Delta Alpha Delta Lambda Lambda Beta from Sun hr deg hr deg deg deg deg deg 15 Fr 23.63 -2.37 22.53 -5.63 354.03 337.57 3.33 W 17 *16 Sa 23.70 -1.98 23.33 +0.14 355.02 350.78 4.12 W 6 17 Su 23.76 -1.58 24.14 +6.02 356.01 4.29 4.70 E 10 18 Mo 23.82 -1.19 24.98 +11.72 357.01 18.08 5.01 E 22 *************************************************************************** 1991 MARCH 16 (Sat) evening Event times are approximate 1411 RAMADAN (9th Islamic Month) Civil - clock - Standard times (nearest) (+N,-S) (W) SUN MOON AGE-MOON Alt/AzDif Unaided-Eye CITY LAT LONG SET SET At-Sunset MOON-SUN SIGHTING ************* deg deg h m h m h m deg deg ********** MAKKAH-S.Arab 20 320 18 30 18 41 7 40 2 5 IMPOSSIBLE MOSCOW - USSR 56 320 18 24 18 60 7 34 4 2 IMPOSSIBLE CAIRO - Egypt 30 330 18 08 18 27 7 58 3 4 IMPOSSIBLE ISTANBUL-Turk 40 330 18 07 18 31 7 57 4 3 IMPOSSIBLE CAPETOWN-S.Af -35 340 17 58 17 46 8 28 -3 7 IMPOSSIBLE LAGOS-Nigeria 10 355 17 51 18 03 9 21 3 6 IMPOSSIBLE % GREENWICH-Engl 50 0 18 06 18 43 9 56 5 2 IMPOSSIBLE DAKAR-Senegal 10 20 18 31 18 47 11 41 3 6 IMPOSSIBLE RIO DeJENEIRO -20 45 18 15 18 18 13 05 1 8 IMPOSSIBLE PARAMARIBO-Suri 0 55 17 52 18 08 13 22 3 7 DIFFICULT BUNOS ARESarg -35 60 18 17 18 12 14 07 -2 9 IMPOSSIBLE LIMA-Peru S.A -10 80 18 33 18 47 15 43 3 9 DIFFICULT (#) = May be visible on Previous Evening, with Difficulty. % (add 1 hr to event time, during summer DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME, from nearly early April to nearly end of October) *************************************************************************** 1991 MARCH 16 (Sat) evening Event times are approximate 1411 RAMADAN (9th Islamic Month) Civil - clock - Standard times (nearest) (+N,-S) (W) SUN MOON AGE-MOON Alt/AzDif Unaided-Eye CITY LAT LONG SET SET At-Sunset MOON-SUN SIGHTING ************* deg deg h m h m h m deg deg ********** % HALIFAX -CNDA 44 65 18 27 19 12 14 37 7 2 DIFFICULT % NEW YORK -USA 40 75 18 07 18 51 14 57 7 3 DIFFICULT % JACKSONVIL-Fl 30 80 18 29 19 05 15 39 7 4 PROBABLE % CHICAGO - USA 40 90 18 07 18 54 15 57 8 3 PROBABLE % DALLAS - USA 35 100 17 48 18 32 16 18 8 2 PROBABLE % DENVER - USA 40 105 18 07 18 57 16 57 8 1 PROBABLE % SAN DIEGO-USA 35 115 17 48 18 35 17 18 8 2 PROBABLE % SAN FRANCISCO 40 120 18 08 18 59 17 58 9 1 PROBABLE % VANCOUVER-CND 50 125 18 26 19 30 18 36 9 0 PROBABLE % ANCHORAGE-Als 62 150 18 04 19 37 19 54 10 -3 MOST PROBABLE % HONOLULU -Hwi 20 160 17 50 18 33 20 20 9 5 MOST PROBABLE (#) = May be visible on Previous Evening, with Difficulty. % (add 1 hr to event time, during summer DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME, from nearly early April to nearly end of October) When the CRESCENT is VISIBLE - in the evening - anywhere from Halifax, NewYork, Jacksonville, SanDiego, SanFrancisco, to Vancouver, then in the USA-CANADA, the next ISLAMIC MONTH STARTS from SUNSET of THAT DATE. The DAY that is shared (Islamic and Gregorian) is the next Gregorian date. (INCREASE date one day, if crossing EAST TO WEST) ###################### INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE ###################### (DECREASE date one day, if crossing WEST TO EAST) 1991 MARCH 16 (Sat) evening Event times are approximate 1411 RAMADAN (9th Islamic Month) Civil - clock - Standard times (nearest) (+N,-S) (W) SUN MOON AGE-MOON Alt/AzDif Unaided-Eye CITY LAT LONG SET SET At-Sunset MOON-SUN SIGHTING ************* deg deg h m h m h m deg deg ********** SYDNEY-Austra -35 210 18 18 17 56 0 08 -5 3 IMPOSSIBLE TOKYO - Japan 35 220 17 48 17 49 0 18 0 4 IMPOSSIBLE PEKING -China 40 245 18 27 18 35 2 37 1 4 IMPOSSIBLE JAKARTA-Indon -10 250 17 53 17 45 2 23 -3 4 IMPOSSIBLE DHAKA -B.Desh 20 270 18 10 18 14 4 00 1 5 IMPOSSIBLE AGRA - India 30 280 17 48 17 58 4 18 2 4 IMPOSSIBLE PESHAWAR -Pak 35 290 18 28 18 41 5 38 2 4 IMPOSSIBLE BUKHARA -USSR 40 295 17 47 18 04 5 17 3 4 IMPOSSIBLE TEHRAN - Iran 35 310 17 48 18 05 6 18 3 4 IMPOSSIBLE For all these cities (Sydney-Tehran) the Crescent will be VISIBLE on Sun 17 Mar 1991, hence the New Lunar Month of RAMADAN starts on Mon 18 Mar 1991. *************************************************************************** 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) 1411 *1990* d h m d h d h d h 1 MUHARAM 836 JUL 22 02 54 JUL 19 11 JUL 31 08 2 SAFR 837 AUG 20 12 39 AUG 15 10 AUG 28 03 SEP 23 07 Equinox 3 RABI-I 838 SEP 19 00 46 SEP 9 11 SEP 24 22 4 RABI-II 839 OCT 18 15 37 OCT 6 18 OCT 22 16 5 JUMA-I 840 NOV 17 09 05 NOV 3 23 NOV 19 03 6 JUMA-II 841 DEC 17 04 22 DEC 2 11 DEC 16 04 DEC 22 03 Solstice 1411 *1991* d h m d h d h d h 7 RAJAB 842 JAN 15 23 50 JAN 28 09 JAN 12 11 JAN 3 03Perihelion 8 SHABAN 843 FEB 14 17 32 FEB 25 01 FEB 9 04 *9 RAMADAN 844 MAR 16 08 10 MAR 22 05 MAR 9 01 MAR 21 03 Equinox 10 SHAWWAL 845 APR 14 19 38 APR 17 17 APR 5 21 11 ZulQADA 846 MAY 14 04 36 MAY 15 17 MAY 3 15 12 ZulHAJJ 847 JUN 12 12 06 JUN 13 00 MAY 31 03 JUN 21 21 Solstice ***************************************************************************** Perihelion = Earth Closest to Sun (Sun moving FASTEST in sky: Jan 3) Equinox = Earth has Equal Daylight and Darkness (Mar 21 & Sept 23) Solstice = Sun apparantly Stationary in Declination (Maximum of Summer: June 21 OR Min. of Winter: Dec 22) Aphelion = Earth Farthest from Sun (Sun moving SLOWEST in sky: Jul 6) 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, ie. further to the left of the evening shadow. For locations in the West of America the direction is even further North from the shadow, ie. even further to the left of the shadow. Technical details will be posted shortly, inshallah (God Willing). **************************************************************************** Copyright Dr.M.N.Durrani, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 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 ****************************** ------------ >>>>>>>>>>>>> ) Look For The CRESCENT MOON ( HILAL ), ) It Is One Of THE MOST BEAUTIFUL OF CREATIONS; )) Then Offer An INTENSE PRAYER To The ONE CREATOR, )) All Sincere DEVOTIONS Are Surely ACCEPTED. )) ----------- >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ) ------------------------------ End of SPACE Digest V13 #281 *******************