Posts Made By: Alan French

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7461707.stm

Have you ever wondered why people have such a hard time admitting they are mistaken, even in the light of significant evidence they were wrong? It happens when evidence shows an innocent person has spent time in jail. It happens when politicians make decisions that were later shown to be seriously misguided. It likely happens in various way in your life, and certainly has in mine.

"Mistakes Were Made (but not by me), Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts," by Carol Travis and Elliot Aronson, very nicely answers this question. I highly recommend the book. Read it and you'll understand why it can be so difficult to change someone's view of reality - and perhaps be a little less frustrated when you can't.

Clear skies, Alan

An interesting article from Tuesday's NY Time science section...

http://tinyurl.com/5tmrs2
or
http://preview.tinyurl.com/5tmrs2
to see and approve the redirection

Clear skies, Alan

I have several of the old Rigel red lights - the type that has a square body and a round light end. It has two red LEDs, and the round front has a large reflective portion and then a large hole that the two lights protrude through. To change the 9 volt battery, you turn the front and pull it out, and then can pull out the electronics with the battery attached.

There is a knurled knob that protrudes through the top. It turns the flashlight on and adjusts the brightness.

I like these lights better than the new ones, but the knurled knobs tend to wear and become hard to turn. I lost the little screw that holds the knurled knob onto the rheostat. No matches turned up in my small bottle of little nuts and bolts. Does anyone have any idea what the size and threading on this screw is?

I hate to order some, but the local hardware has nothing smaller than 4-40. Perhaps I should try to local electronics place? Or perhaps someone has an abandoned flashlight in their junk drawer.

Thanks!

Clear skies, Alan

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/10/20/wwf.climate.report/index.html

The thread Alex started about chromatic aberration in the eyeball reminded me of an odd visual effect I've noticed two or three times. I recall first seeing it when observing Comet Hale-Bopp.

As I was looking for detail in and around the coma, the entire comet was suddenly covered by what looked like a faint, highly detailed and irregular moire pattern. It was more obvious where it was superimposed on the comet, but extended somewhat beyond. Although I knew it was not really there, I couldn't convince my eye/brain it wasn't. I never saw it again on later nights when observing Hale-Bopp, but it happened once when I was looking at M13, and I believe one other time. Very odd.

Clear skies, Alan

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7815540.stm

Isn't evolution marvelous?

Clear skies, Alan

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/01/22/study.forests.dying/index.html

Posted under "Solar System Observing."

Clear skies, Alan

Venus is well placed in the daytime sky for observing. We now see a little less than half the sunlit side of our sister planet and it is approaching 30". Observing during the daytime eliminates the glare that hampers observations under darker skies, and allows Venus to be viewed when it is higher and likely favored by steadier skies.

The shadings in Venus's cloud cover are subtle, and can be a challenge.

As the RASC Observer's Handbook offers, "The subtle structure in the cloud tops is difficult to observe, but too few observers even give it a try. The best times to look are just before Venus's first quarter to mid-gibbous. A violet filter can enhance the visibility of atmospheric structure, and imaging through a UV filter will show cloud details." Although I've been following Venus by eye during the day, I admit it has been a long time since I've turned a serious telescope in its direction under blue skies.

Even if you don't spot any cloud detail, it will be fun to follow the daytime Venus until in reaches a slender crescent almost 60" in diameter. And persistence may pay off one day.

Here are transit times for several cities across the United States. (My apologies to my friends in other countries for not expanding the list, but it would have been tough to make everyone happy.) If you visit http://www.heavens-above.com/ and set up your location, the transit time for Venus is listed under "Planet Summary Data" under the Astronomy section. Obviously, any planetarium software can also provide the transit time.

Boston 2:54 PM EST
Chicago 3:01 PM CST
Kansas City 3:29 PM CST
Denver 3:10 PM MST
Salt Lake City 3:38 PM MST
San Francisco 3:20 PM PST

Clear skies, Alan