tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25327006.post1057867308226387121..comments2024-01-02T10:55:10.607-06:00Comments on Angry Astronomer: Book Review - The Neptune FileJon Voiseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11550625188837528980noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25327006.post-48413461696997927042011-05-10T18:21:57.607-05:002011-05-10T18:21:57.607-05:00Oddly enough, I just finished this book as well (t...Oddly enough, I just finished this book as well (thanks to interlibrary loan and the Lawrence, KS public library system), and found it to be a very quick and entertaining reminder of everything I'd forgotten from my History of Astronomy class a fifteen years ago. Standage is a good, solid writer, and his two previous books ("The Turk" and "The Victorian Internet") are also worth reading. Highly recommended.Williamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15318397806780548145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25327006.post-27508365605792849232011-05-10T18:21:57.251-05:002011-05-10T18:21:57.251-05:00I read that when it first came out and enjoyed it ...I read that when it first came out and enjoyed it enormously.The Ridger, FCDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01538111197270563075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25327006.post-48551752643652750842011-05-10T18:21:57.079-05:002011-05-10T18:21:57.079-05:00I know this entry of yours is from almost a year a...I know this entry of yours is from almost a year ago, but I just saw it tonight for the 1st time, so I hope that gives me a pass to quote you in your blog on the Neptune Files: (and sorry I'm a "God" person... just wanted to give you fair warning)<br><br>"Before precise measurement techniques were available, rough orbits were good enough, but eventually, astronomers realized that the planets weren’t behaving as predicted by the simplistic models. What was needed was to add in the gravitational effects of the other planets (namely Jupiter and Saturn since they’re the most massive by far)."<br><br>I wanted to say that this passage reminded me instantly of the way we can measure whether God exists or not. At least for me, it would be a way I'd ask someone seeking to know if I really believe it or not to judge me. Since we cannot use a telescope to see God, or a scale to measure the weight of a human soul, we measure what we can: the lives of those who claim to know God. While this leaves the scale wanting in many ways when considering the failures of public figures 'who have gone before', there are many more who live quiet lives that tip those scales - these are the 'gravitational effects' of God on the lives of those who seek him.<br><br>This is not to say that considering the pure and un-fooled-around-with rudiments of the mechanics of planets and orbits is not inspirational in itself. I don't mean to say I need to add this commentary in order to enhance the beauty of planetary operations: beauty for beauty's sake, ars gratia artis... as Metro Goldwyn Mayer had on it's lion's crest: "Art for Art's Sake." Astronomy for astronomy's sake is noble and pure, a celebration of applied science for the utmost goal - discovery of truth. I love it. I'm not in school, but I do what I can in my spare time after work: watch The Universe on the History channel, read some books when I can, especially ones about the elements.... I dont know why but I've always loved rocks. I just love the earthy basic-ness of them and the ways the elements interact, surrounding us and sustaining life. It's something I can't not be fascinated by. So I'm going to be reading your blogs... along with others...and I'm sure you're not complimented by someone of no credentials such as myself taking an interest in your blogs, but I have never really been a blog-reader, and tonight after seeing (ugh) Expelled and Google led me to yours, I saw some common interests and got hooked. I kindof wish I could have studied science in college, but I was one of many sheep herded into college after high school and had no idea what I wanted to do. I kindof see myself as a sort of Ben Franklin, a life-long self-learner. My Grandfather never went past the 3rd grade, b/c in the 20's he was sent to an orphanage with his brothers and sisters because his dad died and his mother could not afford to feed them. He worked on farms until he was in his 30's when he took up welding... before there was appropriate equipment, and he ended up legally blind by his early fifties. But in one of the last visits I had with him, he was talking about some physics he had been learning about in his books on tape. So I guess in a way, determining to be a lifelong learner is also a tribute to him... and a sign of some of his dna in me. Thanks for letting me add to this string.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25327006.post-10438538938680695352008-04-18T22:02:00.000-05:002008-04-18T22:02:00.000-05:00I know this entry of yours is from almost a year a...I know this entry of yours is from almost a year ago, but I just saw it tonight for the 1st time, so I hope that gives me a pass to quote you in your blog on the Neptune Files: (and sorry I'm a "God" person... just wanted to give you fair warning)<BR/><BR/>"Before precise measurement techniques were available, rough orbits were good enough, but eventually, astronomers realized that the planets weren’t behaving as predicted by the simplistic models. What was needed was to add in the gravitational effects of the other planets (namely Jupiter and Saturn since they’re the most massive by far)."<BR/><BR/>I wanted to say that this passage reminded me instantly of the way we can measure whether God exists or not. At least for me, it would be a way I'd ask someone seeking to know if I really believe it or not to judge me. Since we cannot use a telescope to see God, or a scale to measure the weight of a human soul, we measure what we can: the lives of those who claim to know God. While this leaves the scale wanting in many ways when considering the failures of public figures 'who have gone before', there are many more who live quiet lives that tip those scales - these are the 'gravitational effects' of God on the lives of those who seek him.<BR/><BR/>This is not to say that considering the pure and un-fooled-around-with rudiments of the mechanics of planets and orbits is not inspirational in itself. I don't mean to say I need to add this commentary in order to enhance the beauty of planetary operations: beauty for beauty's sake, ars gratia artis... as Metro Goldwyn Mayer had on it's lion's crest: "Art for Art's Sake." Astronomy for astronomy's sake is noble and pure, a celebration of applied science for the utmost goal - discovery of truth. I love it. I'm not in school, but I do what I can in my spare time after work: watch The Universe on the History channel, read some books when I can, especially ones about the elements.... I dont know why but I've always loved rocks. I just love the earthy basic-ness of them and the ways the elements interact, surrounding us and sustaining life. It's something I can't not be fascinated by. So I'm going to be reading your blogs... along with others...and I'm sure you're not complimented by someone of no credentials such as myself taking an interest in your blogs, but I have never really been a blog-reader, and tonight after seeing (ugh) Expelled and Google led me to yours, I saw some common interests and got hooked. I kindof wish I could have studied science in college, but I was one of many sheep herded into college after high school and had no idea what I wanted to do. I kindof see myself as a sort of Ben Franklin, a life-long self-learner. My Grandfather never went past the 3rd grade, b/c in the 20's he was sent to an orphanage with his brothers and sisters because his dad died and his mother could not afford to feed them. He worked on farms until he was in his 30's when he took up welding... before there was appropriate equipment, and he ended up legally blind by his early fifties. But in one of the last visits I had with him, he was talking about some physics he had been learning about in his books on tape. So I guess in a way, determining to be a lifelong learner is also a tribute to him... and a sign of some of his dna in me. Thanks for letting me add to this string.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25327006.post-44081460492096495432007-08-22T14:20:00.000-05:002007-08-22T14:20:00.000-05:00Oddly enough, I just finished this book as well (t...Oddly enough, I just finished this book as well (thanks to interlibrary loan and the Lawrence, KS public library system), and found it to be a very quick and entertaining reminder of everything I'd forgotten from my History of Astronomy class a fifteen years ago. Standage is a good, solid writer, and his two previous books ("The Turk" and "The Victorian Internet") are also worth reading. Highly recommended.Williamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15318397806780548145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25327006.post-75947688666802182742007-08-08T19:23:00.000-05:002007-08-08T19:23:00.000-05:00I read that when it first came out and enjoyed it ...I read that when it first came out and enjoyed it enormously.The Ridger, FCDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01538111197270563075noreply@blogger.com