Comments on: Are we lunatics? http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:35:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Interesting Stuff: Late July 2009 « The Outer Hoard http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/comment-page-1/#comment-201489 Interesting Stuff: Late July 2009 « The Outer Hoard Thu, 23 Jul 2009 02:55:50 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/#comment-201489 [...] Plait linked to an episode of the Are We Alone? radio podcast, which I enjoyed very much. I intend to listen to [...] [...] Plait linked to an episode of the Are We Alone? radio podcast, which I enjoyed very much. I intend to listen to [...]

]]> By: Marion Delgado http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/comment-page-1/#comment-198540 Marion Delgado Sun, 12 Jul 2009 19:57:24 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/#comment-198540 Phil if you are not going to teach the controversy, you can't call yourself a "scientist." Everyone knows the so-called moon landing was reincarnated in a sound studio in Arizona!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJuNgBkloFE Stick to your geeky little telescopes and don't try fooling us Joe the Plumbers who have to make a living in the real world. Phil if you are not going to teach the controversy, you can’t call yourself a “scientist.”

Everyone knows the so-called moon landing was reincarnated in a sound studio in Arizona!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJuNgBkloFE

Stick to your geeky little telescopes and don’t try fooling us Joe the Plumbers who have to make a living in the real world.

]]> By: Christina Viering http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/comment-page-1/#comment-198502 Christina Viering Sun, 12 Jul 2009 03:21:08 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/#comment-198502 It looks so real. It looks so real.

]]> By: Nevy C http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/comment-page-1/#comment-198313 Nevy C Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:55:32 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/#comment-198313 @Chris, Jack - I live in Canada and yes, where I live (Ontario - nowhere near the Arctic Circle!), we do have star parties in the summer! I'm off to listen to Are We Alone. @Chris, Jack – I live in Canada and yes, where I live (Ontario – nowhere near the Arctic Circle!), we do have star parties in the summer!

I’m off to listen to Are We Alone.

]]> By: MikeD http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/comment-page-1/#comment-198295 MikeD Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:58:55 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/#comment-198295 Call me a Broadway nerd, but am I the only one who thought the music at the start of this podcast sounds suspiciously like the beginning of the song "You'll See Boys" from RENT? Yeah, I thought so :P Call me a Broadway nerd, but am I the only one who thought the music at the start of this podcast sounds suspiciously like the beginning of the song “You’ll See Boys” from RENT?

Yeah, I thought so :P

]]> By: Torbjörn Larsson, OM http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/comment-page-1/#comment-198288 Torbjörn Larsson, OM Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:40:14 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/#comment-198288 <blockquote> their humour has the same PUNch line. </blockquote> And well received by my PUN-y mind.

their humour has the same PUNch line.

And well received by my PUN-y mind.

]]> By: Jack Hagerty http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/comment-page-1/#comment-198284 Jack Hagerty Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:21:17 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/#comment-198284 23. Chris A. Says: "@Jack and Nevy C: Last year’s July full Moon fell on the 18th. If Nevy C lives far enough north (e.g. northernmost Alaska), then the Moon might very well have set at 1:00 a.m.! I found that from a location about 200 km ESE of Fairbanks, AK, the full Moon would indeed have set at 1:00 a.m. on 7/18/2008." Interesting, but it still confirms what I said about the full moon setting at sunrise! Somehow I don't think many star parties would be held near the Arctic Circle in the middle of summer! - Jack 23. Chris A. Says: “@Jack and Nevy C: Last year’s July full Moon fell on the 18th. If Nevy C lives far enough north (e.g. northernmost Alaska), then the Moon might very well have set at 1:00 a.m.! I found that from a location about 200 km ESE of Fairbanks, AK, the full Moon would indeed have set at 1:00 a.m. on 7/18/2008.”

Interesting, but it still confirms what I said about the full moon setting at sunrise!

Somehow I don’t think many star parties would be held near the Arctic Circle in the middle of summer!

- Jack

]]> By: Chris A. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/comment-page-1/#comment-198283 Chris A. Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:15:45 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/#comment-198283 @Jack and Nevy C: Last year's July full Moon fell on the 18th. If Nevy C lives far enough north (e.g. northernmost Alaska), then the Moon might very well have set at 1:00 a.m.! I found that from a location about 200 km ESE of Fairbanks, AK, the full Moon would indeed have set at 1:00 a.m. on 7/18/2008. @Jack and Nevy C:
Last year’s July full Moon fell on the 18th. If Nevy C lives far enough north (e.g. northernmost Alaska), then the Moon might very well have set at 1:00 a.m.! I found that from a location about 200 km ESE of Fairbanks, AK, the full Moon would indeed have set at 1:00 a.m. on 7/18/2008.

]]> By: Nevy C http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/comment-page-1/#comment-198251 Nevy C Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:07:58 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/#comment-198251 @Jack - ah thanks! I'm hoping for a new moon at the next star party - no chance of my going loony over the precise phase. @Jack – ah thanks!
I’m hoping for a new moon at the next star party – no chance of my going loony over the precise phase.

]]> By: PiperKev http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/comment-page-1/#comment-198204 PiperKev Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:47:10 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/#comment-198204 dhtroy, I think that Phil may have mentioned a pretty reasonably-priced telescope a while back... ;-D https://www.galileoscope.org/gs/ dhtroy, I think that Phil may have mentioned a pretty reasonably-priced telescope a while back… ;-D

https://www.galileoscope.org/gs/

]]> By: themos http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/comment-page-1/#comment-198195 themos Thu, 09 Jul 2009 08:55:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/#comment-198195 I look forward to the day when I won't have to read about these Moon Hoax people on Bad Astronomy anymore. I look forward to the day when I won’t have to read about these Moon Hoax people on Bad Astronomy anymore.

]]> By: Jack Hagerty http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/comment-page-1/#comment-198180 Jack Hagerty Thu, 09 Jul 2009 06:27:04 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/#comment-198180 Nevy - If it's the only source of light around, it's going to seem extremely bright to dark adapted eyes (or even partially adapted) even if only half the disc is illuminated. If the moon set around 1 AM as you mentioned, that means that it was slightly gibbous. A first quarter moon (only the right half illuminated) rises around noon and sets around midnight. The moon rises and sets approximately 1 hour later every day, so a moon setting at 1 AM would be one day past first quarter. This, of course, assumes you are on Standard Time and not Daylight Saving Time. DST pushed the clock ahead an hour, so a 1 AM setting would actually be midnight in "real" time, and therefore right on first quarter. I hope that isn't TMI :-) - Jack Nevy – If it’s the only source of light around, it’s going to seem extremely bright to dark adapted eyes (or even partially adapted) even if only half the disc is illuminated.

If the moon set around 1 AM as you mentioned, that means that it was slightly gibbous. A first quarter moon (only the right half illuminated) rises around noon and sets around midnight. The moon rises and sets approximately 1 hour later every day, so a moon setting at 1 AM would be one day past first quarter. This, of course, assumes you are on Standard Time and not Daylight Saving Time. DST pushed the clock ahead an hour, so a 1 AM setting would actually be midnight in “real” time, and therefore right on first quarter.

I hope that isn’t TMI :-)

- Jack

]]> By: John http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/comment-page-1/#comment-198166 John Thu, 09 Jul 2009 04:35:08 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/#comment-198166 I'm listening to the radio show, and I'm thinking... wow! these moon-hoax believers actually need to be told their not standing on the Moon, and that they were looking at photos with short-exposures. Omg, I wouldn't have the patience with this idiots if they can't understand the basics. I’m listening to the radio show, and I’m thinking… wow! these moon-hoax believers actually need to be told their not standing on the Moon, and that they were looking at photos with short-exposures. Omg, I wouldn’t have the patience with this idiots if they can’t understand the basics.

]]> By: Davidlpf http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/comment-page-1/#comment-198160 Davidlpf Thu, 09 Jul 2009 03:52:37 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/#comment-198160 Seth and Phil get along so well because their humour has the same PUNch line. Seth and Phil get along so well because their humour has the same
PUNch line.

]]> By: Ben Gebhart http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/comment-page-1/#comment-198132 Ben Gebhart Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:06:44 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/#comment-198132 Are We Alone is wonderful on many levels. It's where I first heard of you Phil and this blog (and now it's a daily read). Seth and Molly are great and as entertaining as they are educational. Thanks for the many memorable "Skeptical Sundays." Are We Alone is wonderful on many levels. It’s where I first heard of you Phil and this blog (and now it’s a daily read). Seth and Molly are great and as entertaining as they are educational. Thanks for the many memorable “Skeptical Sundays.”

]]> By: Nevy C http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/comment-page-1/#comment-198128 Nevy C Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:43:59 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/#comment-198128 @Jack: I see...all I remember was that it was very bright away from the city so I guess I assumed it was a full moon! @Jack: I see…all I remember was that it was very bright away from the city so I guess I assumed it was a full moon!

]]> By: Jack Hagerty http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/comment-page-1/#comment-198113 Jack Hagerty Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:18:39 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/#comment-198113 13. Nevy C Says: "hmm why is that?" Because a full moon implies that it is directly opposite the sun in the sky. This means that the full moon rises right at sunset and sets at sunrise. - Jack 13. Nevy C Says: “hmm why is that?”

Because a full moon implies that it is directly opposite the sun in the sky. This means that the full moon rises right at sunset and sets at sunrise.

- Jack

]]> By: Nevy C http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/comment-page-1/#comment-198094 Nevy C Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:49:30 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/#comment-198094 @Jeremy hmm why is that? Perhaps it was at the gibbous phase then? :D @Jeremy
hmm why is that? Perhaps it was at the gibbous phase then? :D

]]> By: Johnny http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/comment-page-1/#comment-198092 Johnny Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:48:05 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/#comment-198092 I was listening to one of those late night kook shows last night (George Nori is the host I believe). Just as I flipped it on his guest said something like "we landed on the moon, there is no conspiracy there, we did it" and I thought it was a little odd, considering the show. Then he went on to say "the conspiracy here is the coverup of all the manmade structures they found when they got there". A new twist on an old favourite. I was listening to one of those late night kook shows last night (George Nori is the host I believe). Just as I flipped it on his guest said something like “we landed on the moon, there is no conspiracy there, we did it” and I thought it was a little odd, considering the show. Then he went on to say “the conspiracy here is the coverup of all the manmade structures they found when they got there”.

A new twist on an old favourite.

]]> By: ZERO http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/comment-page-1/#comment-198075 ZERO Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:20:40 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/#comment-198075 <strong> Not as loony as this! <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/s5cKkzclKP0&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/s5cKkzclKP0&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> Not as loony as this!

]]> By: Jeremy http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/comment-page-1/#comment-198072 Jeremy Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:13:31 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/#comment-198072 @Nevy C If it was a full moon, it didn't set at 1 AM. :) @Nevy C

If it was a full moon, it didn’t set at 1 AM. :)

]]> By: Davidlpf http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/comment-page-1/#comment-198071 Davidlpf Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:11:37 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/#comment-198071 The other night while driving home the full moon was shinning through some light clouds, that is only thing in the night sky I have in about a month. The other night while driving home the full moon was shinning through some light clouds, that is only thing in the night sky I have in about a month.

]]> By: The Chemist http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/comment-page-1/#comment-198065 The Chemist Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:02:53 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/#comment-198065 <i>Someday we’ll have to post out outtakes…</i> PLEASE DO! Someday we’ll have to post out outtakes…

PLEASE DO!

]]> By: Nevy C http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/comment-page-1/#comment-198035 Nevy C Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:47:39 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/#comment-198035 I remember being at a star party a year ago and we were all waiting till 1 am to wait for the full moon to set so we could see the other unearthly stuff. It was a bit like me hoping for a blackout in my city...unsullied night skies! Yes, please do post the outtakes! I remember being at a star party a year ago and we were all waiting till 1 am to wait for the full moon to set so we could see the other unearthly stuff. It was a bit like me hoping for a blackout in my city…unsullied night skies!

Yes, please do post the outtakes!

]]> By: Romeo Vitelli http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/comment-page-1/#comment-198033 Romeo Vitelli Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:43:43 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/07/08/are-we-lunatics/#comment-198033 That picture is obviously a fake. No alien would dare to approach with Dr. Manhattan standing guard. That picture is obviously a fake. No alien would dare to approach with Dr. Manhattan standing guard.

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