http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/astrolrner/ CAE: Improving Astronomy Education Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:32:26 GMT McDaid, Liam http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/astrolrner/message/2923 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/astrolrner/message/2923 Doug, I agree. 2012 is the best possible place to start with a critical thinking exercise. Perhpas we should start figuring out what the next TEOTWAWKI date Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:00:52 GMT Doug Duncan http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/astrolrner/message/2922 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/astrolrner/message/2922 I use 2012 as an assignment. It could hardly be better! There is student interest and a good chance to compare science and pseudoscience, if your class Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:00:23 GMT McDaid, Liam http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/astrolrner/message/2921 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/astrolrner/message/2921 Enrique, Thanks for the information. I actually vetted the Maya section with our resident Maya expert (Michael Grofe) and he made several great suggestions. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:00:17 GMT Nick Strobel http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/astrolrner/message/2920 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/astrolrner/message/2920 David Morrison also wrote an "Astronomy Beat" for the Astronomical Society of the Pacific about 2012 that the ASP has made freely available at Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:59:40 GMT McDaid, Liam http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/astrolrner/message/2919 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/astrolrner/message/2919 Chris, Sorry about the confusion. That should've been edited (or edited out). About the alignment in 1998: This is supposed to be based on: Meeus, Jean Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:35:41 GMT Enrique http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/astrolrner/message/2918 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/astrolrner/message/2918 Hi Liam, A good resource is David Morrison's article in the recent issue of Skeptic magazine. (vol 15 #2). Also, I highly recommend Mark Van Stone's section in Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:35:24 GMT Tim Slater http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/astrolrner/message/2917 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/astrolrner/message/2917 (please excuse the multiple postings if you get this more than once - we want to be sure you know about this) In response to the countless requests from folks Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:34:59 GMT Chris Anderson http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/astrolrner/message/2916 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/astrolrner/message/2916 Liam McDaid's notes on 2012 indicate that the winter solstice Sun's closest approach to the galactic equator occurred in 1998. However, my own research (using Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:13:38 GMT McDaid, Liam http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/astrolrner/message/2915 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/astrolrner/message/2915 Hi everyone, I don't know if astrolrner does attachments but I'm attempting to attach an outline of things relating to 2012. This will only get worse for two Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:09:52 GMT Janelle M. Bailey http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/astrolrner/message/2914 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/astrolrner/message/2914 Please forgive cross-postings and multiple messages, and thank you to those of you who have already been involved in this study. :-) Dear ASTRO 101 Community Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:42:32 GMT Kendra Sibbernsen http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/astrolrner/message/2913 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/astrolrner/message/2913 Dan asked, "So about this artifact, is there any easy way to find out the count value on the pixels? The reason I ask is that these sorts of cameras usually Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:34:32 GMT Mark Heilbrunn http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/astrolrner/message/2912 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/astrolrner/message/2912 I forwarded the question to Dr. Sherwood Parker, a nuclear physicist. Below is his reply. Mark Heilbrunn Prep Academy for Writers Hi Mark, The answer depends Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:33:55 GMT drcreneejames http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/astrolrner/message/2911 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/astrolrner/message/2911 Wow - who knew this would spark such an interesting discussion? I agree that this would be a really cool demo within a lab or class setting. I think a good Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:24:47 GMT Dan Lyons http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/astrolrner/message/2910 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/astrolrner/message/2910 Kendra, and everyone else, This is super cool. Yes, I agree I think the red is probably dark current, or read out noise. So about this artifact, is there any Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:24:39 GMT Roy Lorenz http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/astrolrner/message/2909 http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/astrolrner/message/2909  In MaximDL, v.5, using Graph Window, selected Area Plot, the spikes appear, set Profile Settings to Auto-scale.  The 'grazing' cr isn't as tightly