|
|
Post by rmc on Aug 18, 2021 12:39:08 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by the light works on Aug 18, 2021 14:48:01 GMT
so, basically, it is a trick question, because the average person thinks in terms of orbital position.
I'm gonna say on average, Earth is closest to us, because it rarely gets much more than a mile away from any of us.
|
|
|
|
Post by rmc on Aug 18, 2021 21:22:45 GMT
30,000 feet (agl... you know, when flying Southwest) is more than a mile, but I take your point.
|
|
|
|
Post by GTCGreg on Aug 18, 2021 21:54:46 GMT
30,000 feet (agl... you know, when flying Southwest) is more than a mile, but I take your point. But you aren’t considered leaving earth and entering space until you hit 62 miles altitude. |
|
|
|
Post by rmc on Aug 19, 2021 10:46:55 GMT
30,000 feet (agl... you know, when flying Southwest) is more than a mile, but I take your point. But you aren’t considered leaving earth and entering space until you hit 62 miles altitude. I'm not the one who said being a mile off the planet counts in this. That was the light works. I kind of see his point, I guess. But, I did say that basically a majority of the time, if you say Mercury is closer to earth than either Mars or Venus you'd be right. |
|
|
|
Post by GTCGreg on Aug 19, 2021 11:37:07 GMT
But you aren’t considered leaving earth and entering space until you hit 62 miles altitude. I'm not the one who said being a mile off the planet counts in this. That was the light works. I kind of see his point, I guess. But, I did say that basically a majority of the time, if you say Mercury is closer to earth than either Mars or Venus you'd be right. I believe that’s the point TLW was making. His comment about earth being the closest was taken as a joke. And I believe the question should actually be, which planet gets the closest to earth. Not, which planet is the closest to earth because that would vary depending on orbital position around the sun. |
|
|
|
Post by rmc on Aug 19, 2021 11:40:29 GMT
And was your remark a joke too, then?
I got that he wasn't being serious, by the way.
EDIT:
I thought it was an article in theme with this site, short of being "testable" or interesting watching. Just thought I'd bring it up here since I saw it recently.
Cutting down the main point with a joke took it in a direction I wasn't really expecting. So, I cut up the joke a bit too.
Fair is fair.
EDIT II:
The planets in this article are measured over time. Period.
The amount of time Mercury remains closest to Earth is greater than that of either Mars or Venus.
That is all it says.
"On average" is required, therefore.
Mercury doesn't get to a closer distance than Mars, for instance. Mercury merely remains the close one for more time, basically though.
So no. This particular article is not about which one gets to the absolute smallest distance ever. That honor still goes to either Venus or Mars, if you state your question as you propose.
|
|
|
|
Post by GTCGreg on Aug 19, 2021 12:50:12 GMT
And was your remark a joke too, then? I got that he wasn't being serious, by the way. EDIT: I thought it was an article in theme with this site, short of being "testable" or interesting watching. Just thought I'd bring it up here since I saw it recently. Cutting down the main point with a joke took it in a direction I wasn't really expecting. So, I cut up the joke a bit too. Fair is fair. EDIT II: The planets in this article are measured over time. Period. The amount of time Mercury remains closest to Earth is greater than that of either Mars or Venus. That is all it says. "On average" is required, therefore. Mercury doesn't get to a closer distance than Mars, for instance. Mercury merely remains the close one for more time, basically though. So no. This particular article is not about which one gets to the absolute smallest distance ever. That honor still goes to either Venus or Mars, if you state your question as you propose. This is exactly why I avoid astronomical physics discussions. |
|
|
|
Post by the light works on Aug 19, 2021 14:37:44 GMT
fair is, indeed, fair, and it is interesting that because of position in orbit, mercury has a closer average distance; and it does reveal that we tend to not think about all the factors when we think about things.
|
|
|
|
Post by rmc on Aug 19, 2021 15:28:45 GMT
And was your remark a joke too, then? I got that he wasn't being serious, by the way. EDIT: I thought it was an article in theme with this site, short of being "testable" or interesting watching. Just thought I'd bring it up here since I saw it recently. Cutting down the main point with a joke took it in a direction I wasn't really expecting. So, I cut up the joke a bit too. Fair is fair. EDIT II: The planets in this article are measured over time. Period. The amount of time Mercury remains closest to Earth is greater than that of either Mars or Venus. That is all it says. "On average" is required, therefore. Mercury doesn't get to a closer distance than Mars, for instance. Mercury merely remains the close one for more time, basically though. So no. This particular article is not about which one gets to the absolute smallest distance ever. That honor still goes to either Venus or Mars, if you state your question as you propose. This is exactly why I avoid astronomical physics discussions. Ah, whatever. Every time I post something I think supports what this site tries to do (discuss myths), I am greeted with a lot of stuff that looks remarkably close to trolling. Meanwhile, the site diverges into political disarray over and over again. |
|
|
|
Post by GTCGreg on Aug 19, 2021 15:49:34 GMT
fair is, indeed, fair, and it is interesting that because of position in orbit, mercury has a closer average distance; and it does reveal that we tend to not think about all the factors when we think about things. In other words, it's what you don't know that will bite you. |
|
|
|
Post by the light works on Aug 19, 2021 15:53:15 GMT
This is exactly why I avoid astronomical physics discussions. Ah, whatever. Every time I post something I think supports what this site tries to do (discuss myths), I am greeted with a lot of stuff that looks remarkably close to trolling. Meanwhile, the site diverges into political disarray over and over again. problem is, unless one wants to start a dispute over methodology, there isn't really much room for debate about this. I guess one could question whether venus' greater proximity to earth when they are in close proximity offsets the greater distance when they are opposite each other in comparison to Mercury, but the planets in the outer orbits don't even get that point of debate. |
|
|
|
Post by GTCGreg on Aug 19, 2021 19:54:46 GMT
Ah, whatever. Every time I post something I think supports what this site tries to do (discuss myths), I am greeted with a lot of stuff that looks remarkably close to trolling. Meanwhile, the site diverges into political disarray over and over again. problem is, unless one wants to start a dispute over methodology, there isn't really much room for debate about this. I guess one could question whether venus' greater proximity to earth when they are in close proximity offsets the greater distance when they are opposite each other in comparison to Mercury, but the planets in the outer orbits don't even get that point of debate. Well, TLW, I guess that since we are the only two that have commented on this thread, then we must be the trolls to which he is referring. Although we both are guilty of diverging into political discussions. But those have always been light and highly educational. |
|
|
|
Post by rmc on Aug 19, 2021 21:41:40 GMT
Ah, whatever. Every time I post something I think supports what this site tries to do (discuss myths), I am greeted with a lot of stuff that looks remarkably close to trolling. Meanwhile, the site diverges into political disarray over and over again. problem is, unless one wants to start a dispute over methodology, there isn't really much room for debate about this. I guess one could question whether venus' greater proximity to earth when they are in close proximity offsets the greater distance when they are opposite each other in comparison to Mercury, but the planets in the outer orbits don't even get that point of debate. When and where I discovered this paper the discussion there wasn't so much debate as it was (as in MY case, for instance) "Oh. Right. I never looked at it that way before..." Better, it wasn't just ME owning up to the fact that Mercury is usually closer and shouldn't be surprised by that fact, but there were some apparent Planetarium folks admitting they needed to change their script. So, debate isn't the only form of discussion.... PLUS, no discussion at all, merely reading the factoid IS acceptable. Besides, like GTCGreg posted earlier... he doesn't get involved with these sorts of discussions... and ... yet. |
|
|
|
Post by GTCGreg on Aug 20, 2021 0:04:28 GMT
problem is, unless one wants to start a dispute over methodology, there isn't really much room for debate about this. I guess one could question whether venus' greater proximity to earth when they are in close proximity offsets the greater distance when they are opposite each other in comparison to Mercury, but the planets in the outer orbits don't even get that point of debate. When and where I discovered this paper the discussion there wasn't so much debate as it was (as in MY case, for instance) "Oh. Right. I never looked at it that way before..." Better, it wasn't just ME owning up to the fact that Mercury is usually closer and shouldn't be surprised by that fact, but there were some apparent Planetarium folks admitting they needed to change their script. So, debate isn't the only form of discussion.... PLUS, no discussion at all, merely reading the factoid IS acceptable. Besides, like GTCGreg posted earlier... he doesn't get involved with these sorts of discussions... and ... yet. and yet...some of them are so irresistible. Especially TLW's political rants. How can I help myself but to make comments? You're right. At times I probably am an old ornery troll. But us old trolls have to have some fun. |
|
|
|
Post by the light works on Aug 20, 2021 2:27:20 GMT
and sometimes it doesn't matter what the topic is, it's just good to talk.
|
|
|
|
Post by rmc on Aug 20, 2021 10:19:47 GMT
Well, usually on these sorts of sites, the information just hangs out there on the internet, available for the world to peruse for who knows how many years to come. I guess I make the mistake of trying to "leave it" in a form that seems fitting for the people who thought a site like this was worth assembling.
If you really don't mind the site straying along, then who am I to disapprove?
|
|
|
|
Post by GTCGreg on Aug 20, 2021 12:39:37 GMT
Well, usually on these sorts of sites, the information just hangs out there on the internet, available for the world to peruse for who knows how many years to come. I guess I make the mistake of trying to "leave it" in a form that seems fitting for the people who thought a site like this was worth assembling. If you really don't mind the site straying along, then who am I to disapprove? The Citadel has multiple portals for discussion. This one is for “science stuff and links”, and that’s exactly what you posted. So I see no problem either with your post or the responses. |
|
|
|
Post by the light works on Aug 20, 2021 14:36:47 GMT
Well, usually on these sorts of sites, the information just hangs out there on the internet, available for the world to peruse for who knows how many years to come. I guess I make the mistake of trying to "leave it" in a form that seems fitting for the people who thought a site like this was worth assembling. If you really don't mind the site straying along, then who am I to disapprove? better straying along than losing touch with each other. |
|
|
|
Post by rmc on Aug 20, 2021 17:31:27 GMT
When and where I discovered this paper the discussion there wasn't so much debate as it was (as in MY case, for instance) "Oh. Right. I never looked at it that way before..." Better, it wasn't just ME owning up to the fact that Mercury is usually closer and shouldn't be surprised by that fact, but there were some apparent Planetarium folks admitting they needed to change their script. So, debate isn't the only form of discussion.... PLUS, no discussion at all, merely reading the factoid IS acceptable. Besides, like GTCGreg posted earlier... he doesn't get involved with these sorts of discussions... and ... yet. and yet...some of them are so irresistible. Especially TLW's political rants. How can I help myself but to make comments? You're right. At times I probably am an old ornery troll. But us old trolls have to have some fun. I see that. But why always me? What did I do, specifically to you? You seem to me, having read a number of your posts throughout the years, as quite possibly one of the smartest people on these boards. I just cannot fathom why you'd want to leave the least bit trace online of ever having played the troll card. EDIT: Why is it I feel I've walked right into this one. Perhaps I should just continue to let it go, as I have all along these many years. |
|
