Return-path: X-Andrew-Authenticated-as: 7997;andrew.cmu.edu;Ted Anderson Received: from holmes.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 ; Tue, 4 Apr 89 05:18:03 -0500 (EST) Message-ID: Reply-To: space+@Andrew.CMU.EDU From: space-request+@Andrew.CMU.EDU To: space+@Andrew.CMU.EDU Date: Tue, 4 Apr 89 05:17:54 -0500 (EST) Subject: SPACE Digest V9 #337 SPACE Digest Volume 9 : Issue 337 Today's Topics: Re: alien contact Re: Planning a trip to Proxima Centauri Re: Planning a trip to Proxima Centauri Re: Success with cold fusion reported Re: US/USSR prices (followup) Re: Discovery - UFO Close Encounter? Re: Discovery - UFO Close Encounter? Cold Fusion Crescent sighting: Thu/Fri 6/7 April 1989 Re: Discovery - UFO Close Encounter? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 2 Apr 89 01:04:06 GMT From: ccoprmd@pyr.gatech.edu (Matthew T. DeLuca) Subject: Re: alien contact In article <1989Apr1.224541.22308@utzoo.uucp> henry@utzoo.uucp (Henry Spencer) writes: >Of course, if they consider spaceflight a major sign of civilization, then >there's absolutely no doubt about where they will go: Baikonur. Or just >possibly Plesetsk, although if they're being attentive to things like the >activity around Mir it'll be Baikonur for sure. The other spaceports on >Earth are insignificant by comparison to either of those two. Between them >they handle 80%+ of Earth's space traffic. >-- You fail to realize, I feel, that by the standards of a civilization that can send ships to the stars, neither we nor the Russians have any claim to being a space-faring civilization. Besides, I doubt that self-respecting aliens would have as their sole criterion of civilization the number of cheap chemical rockets that could be sent up. Quality versus quantity, I'd choose quality every time. Georgia Institute of Technology : Remember, wherever you go, there you are. ARPA: ccoprmd@pyr.gatech.edu : ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 89 00:46:14 GMT From: cbmvax!jesup@rutgers.edu (Randell Jesup) Subject: Re: Planning a trip to Proxima Centauri In article <1989Mar29.210617.4334@utzoo.uucp> henry@utzoo.uucp (Henry Spencer) writes: >In article <4441@drivax.UUCP> macleod@drivax.UUCP (MacLeod) writes: >>... Given the energy >>density figures from preliminary reports, how much of a scale-up >>will it take for a constant-boost ship capable of going to Proxima >>Centauri? Assume refueling there. > >Massive. Colossal. Nearly impossible. Fusion is only marginally viable >as an interstellar propulsion system at all, never mind constant-boost! >Effective interstellar propulsion requires antimatter rockets at least, >and preferably systems like the Bussard ramjet or the laser sail that >escape from some of the limitations of rockets. However, _really_ cheap energy might make anitmatter propulsion far more feasible (though still expensive, it's an engineering problem - we can make and store anti-matter, just not well, since the need for such engineering has been small so far.) -- Randell Jesup, Commodore Engineering {uunet|rutgers|allegra}!cbmvax!jesup ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 89 05:40:27 GMT From: amdahl!nsc!andrew@apple.com (andrew) Subject: Re: Planning a trip to Proxima Centauri I think that interstellar hydrogen exists. Add energy; there's your deuterium for your palladium. Also, low temperatures exist (3 deg K). There's the environment for energy storage in (even an old-type) superconductor. Now we have energy storage and generation of ideal type. What's the catch? (is it in making the deuterium - or is there enough out there already?). ===== Andrew Palfreyman USENET: ...{this biomass}!nsc!logic!andrew National Semiconductor M/S D3969, 2900 Semiconductor Dr., PO Box 58090, Santa Clara, CA 95052-8090 ; 408-721-4788 there's many a slip 'twixt cup and lip ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 89 05:12:40 GMT From: att!pegasus!psrc@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU (Paul S. R. Chisholm) Subject: Re: Success with cold fusion reported <"Would you like me to summon Data so he could offer a few dozen synonyms?"> In article <1989Mar28.041030.2291@gpu.utcs.toronto.edu>, kocic@gpu.utcs.toronto.edu (Miroslav Kocic) writes: > . . . what if cold fusion becomes the crack-cocaine of energy > production? I can imagine a thousand fanatics in 750 terrorist > cells making an H-bomb in their kitchen. Seems to me that rec.arts.sf-lovers is the "right" group to discuss the social implications of cheap, simple fusion. It's certainly the right group for my response to the above, taken from Larry Niven's story, "ARM" (from THE LONG ARM OF GIL HAMILTON, 1976, p. 118 of my paperback copy; the story first appeared in 1975): Monitoring of technology is necessary enough, but may have happened too late. There are enough fusion power plants and fusion rocket motors and fusion seawater distilleries around to let any madman or group thereof blow up the Earth or any selected part of it. In Niven's future history, the risk is worth it. I hope it is in ours! Paul S. R. Chisholm, AT&T Bell Laboratories att!pegasus!psrc, psrc@pegasus.att.com, AT&T Mail !psrchisholm I'm not speaking for the company, I'm just speaking my mind. (If you have opinions on discussing fusion in the SF group, send me e-mail; I'll post a summary to the various groups.) ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 89 22:10:48 GMT From: mailrus!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!utgpu!utzoo!henry@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu (Henry Spencer) Subject: Re: US/USSR prices (followup) In article <8903311804.AA13068@cmr.icst.nbs.gov> roberts@CMR.ICST.NBS.GOV (John Roberts) writes: >If, however, a company is trying to drive its competitors out of major >contention altogether, so it can control the market, this is considered >restraint of trade, and is illegal in the US. Note that it is not necessary >to drive the competitors entirely out of business. If their sales volume >can be reduced to the point that they no longer enjoy economies of scale, >they may not have sufficient funds to operate at a loss in order to restore >volume, or they may become convinced that they can not make a profit on the >product in question, and give it up... Restraint of trade is illegal in the US only when it's not the government doing it. Consider what the shuttle almost did to expendable launchers. Consider, for that matter, what the US has just done to China's sales prospects for Long March. One hopes that the Chinese will not give up on Long March, despite the (so far) successful US attempts at restraint of trade. -- Welcome to Mars! Your | Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology passport and visa, comrade? | uunet!attcan!utzoo!henry henry@zoo.toronto.edu ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 89 08:11:24 GMT From: cs.utexas.edu!sm.unisys.com!csun!csuna!abcscnge@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu (Scott "The Pseudo-Hacker" Neugroschl) Subject: Re: Discovery - UFO Close Encounter? [reasons for aliens to land in the US deleted] Besides, they have ELVIS (and the WWII bombers from Mars) , and HE ( and they) came from the good old U-S-of-A. -- Scott "The Pseudo-Hacker" Neugroschl UUCP: ...!sm.unisys.com!csun!csuna.csun.edu!abcscnge -- unless explicitly stated above, this article not for use by rec.humor.funny -- Disclaimers? We don't need no stinking disclaimers!!! ------------------------------ Date: 31 Mar 89 08:00:39 GMT From: jumbo!stolfi@decwrl.dec.com (Jorge Stolfi) Subject: Re: Discovery - UFO Close Encounter? Matthew T. DeLuca wrote: > > Well, from orbit, the United States is clearly the most > advanced nation on Earth. More roads, dams, and bridges are in > the U.S. than anywhere else on Earth. I disagree; from orbit, the most advanced nation on Earth is clearly Brazil. More oxygen-producing machines there than anywhere else. Not to mention the largest H2O transportation network in the world. Actually, if I were an alien looking for fun, I would head straight for the place with the largest and sunniest beach, or the most spectacular ski resort (North Africa and Antarctica, respectively). :-) Jorge Stolfi @ DEC Systems Research Center stolfi@src.dec.com, ...!decwrl!stolfi --------------------------------------------------------------------------- In their gun-rack they placed three rifles and three hunting-pieces that could fire explosive bullets, along with a good supply of powder and ammunition. ``Who knows whom or what we will have to deal with,'' said Michel Ardan. ``Men or beasts may take a dim view of our visit. And so we must take every precaution.'' -- Verne, _From the Earth to the Moon_ (1865) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- DISCLAIMER: The above etc. etc. ------------------------------ Date: 31 Mar 89 09:41:23 GMT From: mcvax!cernvax!jon@uunet.uu.net (jon) Subject: Cold Fusion Professor Fleischmann one of the authors of the paper on sustained nuclear fusion at room temperature is giving a special seminar a CERN this afternoon ... I'll try to keep notes of the relevant points and will post a resume after the talk. At least I should be able to get a good idea if this a realistic method of producing power or if it is just a laboratory quirk. *---------------------------------------------------------------* | | | Jon Caves {world}!mcvax!cernavx!jon | | Division DD, jon@cernvax.cern.ch | | CERN CH-1211, | | Geneva 23, "Quote? I haven't got time to think | | Switzerland. of a quote!" | | | *---------------------------------------------------------------* ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 89 20:33:52 GMT From: heddaya@bu-cs.bu.edu (Abdelsalam Heddaya) Subject: Crescent sighting: Thu/Fri 6/7 April 1989 [I am posting this for: (Mohib N. Durrani) mnd@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu so, please reply to him. Thanks. ---AH] ****************************************************************************** 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: 1989 APR 6/7 (Thu/Fri) (*) for the 9th. Islamic Month of RAMADAN (fasting), 1409, starting on Fri/Sat 7/8 Apr 1989, for USA and S.America, and on Sat 8 Apr 1989, for points West of San Francisco. (*) 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: Was Hilal visible to naked eye?......... Hilal sighted in binoculars?......... EXACT TIMES: Complete Sunset at......... Hilal First Visible....... End....... 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 (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.: 820 New Moon (not crescent visible moon): 1989 Apr 6d 03h 33m UT (Universal Time) (Universal Time, i.e. mean solar time on the meridian of Greenwich) EQUATORIAL coords.(for 0h UT) ECLIPTIC coords.(for 0h UT) Date Sun Sun MOON MOON Sun MOON MOON APR R.A. Decl. R.A. Decl. Long. Long. Lat. '89 Alpha Delta Alpha Delta Lambda Lambda Beta hr deg hr deg deg deg deg 6 1.00 6.40 0.79 8.65 16.32 14.20 3.31 7 1.06 6.77 1.72 15.23 17.30 29.43 4.23 8 1.13 7.15 2.70 20.81 18.28 44.49 4.85 1989 APR 6 (Thu) (event times are the approximate local standard mean times) (nearest) (+N,-S) (W) SUN MOON at Sunset CITY LAT LONG SET SET AGE-MOON SIGHTING ************* deg deg h m h m h m ********** MECCA-S.Arabia 20 320 18 15 18 43 12 02 DIFFICULT MOSCOW-USSR 56 320 18 48 19 48 12 35 DIFFICULT CAIRO-Egypt 30 330 18 21 18 57 12 48 DIFFICULT ISTANBUL-Turk 40 330 18 29 19 12 12 56 DIFFICULT CAPETOWN-S.Af -35 340 17 48 17 46 12 55 IMPOSSIBLE LAGOS-Nigeria 10 355 18 10 18 38 14 17 DIFFICULT # GREENWICH-Engl 50 0 18 40 19 40 15 07 PROBABLE DAKAR-Senegal 10 20 18 10 18 42 16 02 PROBABLE RIO DeJENEIRO -20 45 17 57 18 14 17 24 DIFFICULT PARAMARIBO-Suri 0 55 18 06 18 38 18 13 PROBABLE # NEW YORK-USA 40 75 18 29 19 36 19 56 PROBABLE # SAN FRANCISCO 40 120 18 29 19 46 22 56 MOST PROBABLE # (add 1 hr to event time, for Daylight saving time) ************* International Date Line *********************** 1989 APR 6 (Thu) (event times are the approximate local standard mean times) (nearest) (+N,-S) (W) SUN MOON at Sunset CITY LAT LONG SET SET AGE-MOON SIGHTING ************* deg deg h m h m h m ********** SIDNEY-Austra -35 210 17 48 17 35 4 15 IMPOSSIBLE TOKYO-Japan 35 220 18 25 18 41 5 32 IMPOSSIBLE PEKING-China 40 245 18 29 18 53 7 16 IMPOSSIBLE JAKARTA-Indon -10 250 18 01 18 04 7 08 IMPOSSIBLE DACCA-B.Desh 20 270 18 15 18 34 8 48 IMPOSSIBLE AGRA-India 30 280 18 21 18 47 9 32 IMPOSSIBLE PESHAWAR-Pak 35 290 18 25 18 55 10 12 IMPOSSIBLE BUKHARA-USSR 40 295 18 29 19 05 10 36 IMPOSSIBLE TEHRAN-Iran 35 310 18 25 19 00 11 32 IMPOSSIBLE For most of these cities (Sidney-Tehran) the Cresent will be VISIBLE on Fri 7 Apr 1989. Please note that the Islamic dates start from sundown of a previous day. ****************************************************************************** ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 89 03:09:54 GMT From: winter@apple.com (Patty Winter) Subject: Re: Discovery - UFO Close Encounter? Hey, gang, this series had only a marginal connection to rec.ham-radio in the first place (because the transmission was heard via a rebroadcast by the Goddard Amateur Radio Club) and has now gotten totally away from that aspect. All further followups to more appropriate newsgroups, please. BTW... In article<7765@pyr.gatech.EDU>ccoprmd@pyr.gatech.EDU(Matthew T. DeLuca)writes: >A very possible explanation of this occurrence comes to mind: since the >frequency of the alleged transmission is in the middle of the commercial >radio band, it is possible that someone with a radio set to that frequency >broadcast the two items to see what happened, knowing that someone might be >listening. A pretty good joke, if you ask me. The original posting said that the transmission had been monitored from the above-mentioned GARC rebroadcast, which was on 147.45 MHz in the amateur radio 2-meter band, not on a commercial band. The transmissions are in FM, so although it's theoretically possible for someone to capture the frequency away from GARC, a more likely result of putting another transmitter on that frequency would be a collision of the signals such that neither transmission would be intelligible. So I doubt that it was a spoofed signal on top of the real one. Patty ============================================================================= Patty Winter N6BIS DOMAIN: winter@apple.com AMPR.ORG: [44.4.0.44] UUCP: {decwrl,nsc,sun}!apple!winter ============================================================================= ------------------------------ End of SPACE Digest V9 #337 *******************