ASTR 1013 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Gregorian Calendar, Orbital Speed, Pseudoscience
Document Summary
They communicate discoveries via conferences, journals, and publications. They submit proposals to federal agencies for funding. Astronomers observe and then analyze at their home university. Claims to be scientific, but violates at least one scientific principle. Belief in, and reverence for, superhuman power(s) that created and/or govern the universe. Science does not preclude religious belief; religion should defer to science about the physical universe. Ancient superstition of celestial influences on people, based on location of sun and planets relative to the 12 zodiacal constellations. Existence of extraterrestrials is plausible, but not supported by evidence. Positions described by latitude (angle n/s of the equator) and longitude (angle e/w of the prime meridian). Angles are measured in degrees, arcminutes ( ), and arc seconds ( ). Meridians converge at pole, so physical length of 1 degree of longitude shrinks as poles are approached. Sidereal day=23hrs 56min= time for earth"s 360 degree rotation. Range is 24hrs+/- 30sec= time between successive sunrises.
