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(meteorobs) Excerpts from "CCNet DIGEST, 28 April 1999"
------- Forwarded Message
From: Benny J Peiser <b.j.peiser@livjm.acdot uk>
To: cambridge-conference@livjm.acdot uk
Subject: CCNet DIGEST, 28 April 1999
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 10:20:12 -0400 (EDT)
CCNet DIGEST, 28 April 1999
---------------------------
[...]
(2) DON'T MISS OUT ON THE METEORS
THE TIMES, 28 April 1999
(3) LYRIDS ACTIVITY REPORT 1999
Rainer Arlt <rarlt@aipdot de>
(4) A BRIEF HISTORY OF MINOR PLANET RESEARCH
Richard Kowalski <bitnik@bitnik.com>
(5) NEW SCENARIOS FOR PUNCTUATED SOLAR SYSTEM EVOLUTION
Emilio Spedicato <EMILIO@IBGUNIV.UNIBGdot it>
===============
(2) DON'T MISS OUT ON THE METEORS
>From THE TIMES, 28 April 1999
http://www.the-times.codot uk/news/pages/Times/frontpage.html?999
By Nigel Hawkes, Science Editor
LAST November astronomers anxious to see the best meteor shower for 33
years decamped to Asia, where fireworks were predicted. In reality,
they would have done better to stay at home. Instead of amazing the
people of East Asia, the 1998 Leonids shower produced its most dramatic
fireballs over the Atlantic 16 hours earlier.
In a remarkable piece of scientific detection, this unexpected result
has been traced back to events that took place more than 600 years ago
in 1333.
The annual Leonids shower (so-called because the shooting stars appear
to originate from the constellation of Leo) is caused by the Earth
passing through the orbit of the comet Tempel-Tuttle. This happens
every year, but especially brilliant displays occur every 33 years or
so, when the comet has passed close to the Sun, releasing more dust
particles for Earth to plunge through.
Predicting the timing of such an event is notoriously difficult, but
missing the best part of the event by 16 hours was a big error. Now
three astronomers - Dr David Asher and Professor Mark Bailey, of Armagh
Observatory, and Professor Vacheslav Emelyanenko, of South Ural
University in Chelyabinsk, in the Russian Federation - say that we must
look back to 1333 for an explanation.
The display that many astronomers missed occurred as Earth passed
through an extremely dense, narrow stream of large dust grains and
particles, up to several centimetres in diameter. The timing suggested
that these particles were in an orbit rather different from that of the
main stream of small grains shed by the comet, and that they left the
comet's nucleus many hundreds of years ago.
They calculated the motion of large dust grains ejected from the comet
at each of the last 42 occasions when it made its closest approach to
the Sun. They identified September 1333 as the time when most of the
observed particles must have been released. These particles did not
spread out in space because of a dynamical process known as resonance,
the same process that keeps Saturn's rings in place.
In this case it is the influence of Jupiter which kept the dust cloud
intact instead of allowing it to spread around the entire orbit of the
comet.
In the latest issue of Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical
Society, they report that the particles occupy a rather short arc,
forming a dense strand of large particles separate from the "normal"
strands of small particles, which lie ahead of and behind the comet.
The calculations show that in November 1998 the arc of particles
released in 1333 cut right through Earth's orbit, and the calculated
time for when this happened matched the observed meteor shower maximum
to the hour.
The researchers are not expecting a repeat performance of bright
fireballs in November this year. But a strong "normal" display is
likely, peaking at about 2am on November 18, because of meteoroids
ejected from comet Tempel-Tuttle in 1866, 1899 and 1932 that have not
yet had time to disperse around the comet's orbit.
Copyright 1999, The Times Newspapers Ltd.
=====================
(3) LYRIDS ACTIVITY REPORT 1999
>From Rainer Arlt <rarlt@aipdot de>
- -------------------------------------
I M O S h o w e r C i r c u l a r
- -------------------------------------
LYRIDS 1999
The number of Lyrid observations which have reached the Visual
Commission is not large. Reports by 13 observers as listed below came
in during the last week. We are very grateful to these quick reports
allowing a first look at the 1999 Lyrid activity.
The ZHR profile indicates slightly higher activity of the Lyrids in
1999 compared with most of the recent years which showed maximum
activity of ZHR~15 to 20. However, 6 out of the 7 periods averaging to
the highest ZHR of 32 in the early morning of April 23 comprise the
reports of only two observers at the same location.
If the enhanced activity is confirmed by additional observations, it
would not manifest an outburst in the sense of the 1982 or older
activity peaks, since those were very short in duration. The reports
giving ZHR=32 cover the period April 22, 2315 -- April 23, 0216 UT and
do not show a clear peak pattern. The centre at a solar longitude of
32.5 deg agrees moderately well with the maximum of the annual Lyrid
activity between 32.0 and 32.4 deg.
BAKLA Lars Bakmann (Denmark)
EINSH Shlomi Eini (Israel)
ENZFR Frank Enzlein (Germany)
LEVAN Anna Levina (Israel)
LINMI Mike Linnolt (USA)
MARPI Pierre Martin (Canada)
MIKMR Mark Mikutis (USA)
MOUPH Philippe Moussette (Canada)
NATSV Sven Nather (Germany)
RENJU Jurgen Rendtel (Germany)
STOWE Wes Stone (USA)
VANER Erwin van Ballegoij (Aruba)
YOUKI Kim Youmans (USA)
- ----------------------------------------------
Date Time Sollong nObs nLYR ZHR +-
- ----------------------------------------------
1999/04/18 0820 27.9 4 10 6.1 3.8
1999/04/19 0400 28.7 8 15 3.0 1.5
1999/04/20 0255 29.6 11 30 4.8 1.8
1999/04/21 0045 30.5 6 28 7.9 3.0
1999/04/21 0815 30.8 6 21 6.5 2.8
1999/04/22 0225 31.5 6 33 22.7 7.9
1999/04/22 0715 31.7 5 28 14.9 5.6
1999/04/23 0045 32.5 7 50 32.4 9.2
1999/04/23 0855 32.8 4 41 11.8 3.7
1999/04/24 0850 33.8 2 6 5.7 4.7
- ----------------------------------------------
Solar longitudes are given with respect to equinox J2000.0; the ZHR is
computed with a population index r=2.9 and a zenith correction exponent
of gamma=1. nObs is the number of observing periods in the average, it
is not the number of different observers contributing. nLYR is the
number of Lyrids seen in these periods.
- ---
Rainer Arlt, 1999 April 27.
=====================
(4) A BRIEF HISTORY OF MINOR PLANET RESEARCH
>From Richard Kowalski <bitnik@bitnik.com>
For those of you who have an interest, I have up loaded the paper that
I presented at MPAPW99; A Brief History of Minor Planet Research.
A number of people requested I put this online and it will also appear
on the CD-ROM version of the proceedings.
It can be located at http://www.bitnik.com/mp/briefhistory.zip
As you can see from the URL it is zipped and when uncompressed you will
have an MS WORD document.
I will convert this paper in HTML format for those of you who can't
read WORD documents very soon.
- --
Richard
============
(5) NEW SCENARIOS FOR PUNCTUATED SOLAR SYSTEM EVOLUTION
>From Emilio Spedicato <EMILIO@IBGUNIV.UNIBGdot it>
Dear Benny,
the following is the program of a workshop to be held this June in
Milano and Bergamo. Please advertise it on your network.
Regards
Emilio Spedicato
NEW SCENARIOS FOR THE SOLAR SYSTEM EVOLUTION AND CONSEQUENCES
IN HISTORY OF EARTH AND MAN
Venue: Milano, Sala Conferenze della Provincia, via Corridoni 16,
June 7 and 8
Bergamo, Sala dei Giuristi, Citta' Alta, June 9
Registration: participation is free on first come first served basis.
Qualified participants may get a reserved seat by contacting the organizers
at SCENARI@UNIBGdot it. Additional information can be found in the web
site: www.unibgdot it/convegni/NEW_SCENARIOS
This workshop deals with a wide range of scientific topics based upon
developments in the research of the last twenty years that cast new
light in the recent past of planet Earth and consequently in the
ancient history of Homo Sapiens, where the roots are to be found
of the mythological and religious heritage.
Among the important new findings in astronomy are the discovery of the
chaoticity of the planetary orbits and the presence of agents that can
catastrophically interact with the Earth at time spans that are not
too long with the span of presence of Homo Sapiens on the Earth. Some
of these questions are presented and discussed by well known specialists
in the field. The more general, complex and fascinating scenario of the
whole universe evolution is for completeness discussed in both the version
presently accepted by the majority of scientists (the big bang scenario)
and in possible alternative versions.
The session on geology discusses a number of questions associated with
the crucial and difficult problem of accurately dating events in the
far past but more importantly for the consequences on the dating of the
Homo Sapiens history on the Earth (radiocarbon, dendrochronological and
radiometrical dating techniques). The problem of climatic variations
and glaciations in the late pleistocene and holocene, so important to
understand the Homo Sapiens past, is discussed. Two particular topics
that have always fascinated man, namely the deluge traditions and the
antiquity of the great Giza Sphynx, are discussed from the geologist
point of view.
The session on anthropology reviews work done by genetists and
linguists, that shows a tree of evolution of human presence in the
world from a very likely unique original source. Evidence of contacts
before Columbus between America and Europe will be discussed. The
hypothesis of civilization on Earth well before the third millennium
will also be considered. A non standard interpretation will be given of
who were the Nephilim and the Annunaki in the biblical and sumerian
records.
The session on mythologies and religions presents new paradigms that
explain the remarkably complex structure of ancient myths and
religions, where common and recurrent elements are present. Two
alternative proposals for the Atlantis legend are discussed and the
seminal role of Immanuel Velikovsky in proposing that catastrophical
events of extraterrestrial origin have affected human kind till
relatively (about 700 BC) recent times is discussed.
Finally the last session The view of institutional religions presents
the point of view of the main world religions on the archaic original
elements that are to be found at their source.
It is believed that the workshop will allow a useful interaction
between specialists in different fields and will contribute to a better
knowledge of the roots of Homo Sapiens, so intimately woven with the
complex history of planet Earth and the Solar System.
SPEAKERS AND TOPICS
Milano, June 7 and 8, 1999
ASTRONOMY
Prof. G. Cavalleri, University of Brescia
The evolution of the Universe under the big bang scenario
Prof. E. Recami, University of Bergamo
Open problems II cosmology
Prof. T. Van Flandern, University of Maryland
Evidence of the explosion of a planet in the solar
system circa 3.2 million years ago
Prof. H. Arp, Max Planck Institute, Munich
Open problems I in cosmology
Dr. V. Clube, Oxford University
Deism and revelation or cosmological and anthropic principles
Prof. Valsecchi, University of Rome
Dinamica di piccoli corpi in orbita di collisione con la Terra
Dr. F. Barbiero, Centro Camuno di Studi Preistorici
Changes in the rotation axis of the Earth after asteroid/cometary
impacts
GEOLOGY
Prof. F. Ricci Lucchi, University of Bologna
Between philosophy of nature and philosophy of science: the case of geology
Prof. G. Ferrara, University of Pisa
Natural radionuclides and geocronology
Prof. M. Baillie, Queens University, Belfast
Dendrochonological dating, results and open problems
Prof. G. Orombelli, University of Milano
Climatic variations in last 200.000 years derived from polar ice
analysis
Prof. F. Wezel, Academy of Lincei
A review of main geological changes on Earth during Homo Sapiens time
Prof. A. Tollmann, Wien University
The deluge in the peoples traditions and geological evidence
Prof. R. Schoch, University of Boston
Erosion processes on the great Sphynx and its dating
ANTHROPOLOGY
D. Eccott, London
Evidence of contacts between America and the Old World before
Columbus
Prof. Cavalli Sforza, Stanford University
What genetics says about human history
Prof. E. Anati, Centro Camuno di Studi Preistorici
Val Camonica, a unique example of a civilization with continuous
documentation over 8000 years
A. Alford, Walsall
Who were the Nephilim and the Annunaki in the biblical and sumerian
records?
Bergamo, June 9, 1999, Sala dei Giuristi
NEW SCENARIOS ON THE ORIGIN OF MYTHOLOGIES AND RELIGIONS
Dr. D. Talbott, Portland
The golden age, its collapse and the origin of classical religions
R. Bauval, Cairo
Evidence of civilization on Earth well before the third millennium BC
F. Barbiero, Centro Camuno Studi Preistorici, Capo di Ponte
Was Atlantis in Antarctica? Arguments in favour
E. Spedicato, Bergamo University
Was Atlantis in Hispaniola? Arguments in favour
C. Ginenthal, New York
Immanuel Velikovsky and his view of a catastrophical recent
history of the Earth
THE VIEW OF INSTITUTIONAL RELIGIONS
Prof. G. Borgonovo, Venegono Seminary
The archaic elements in Genesis: the view from Catholicism
Prof. R. Laras, Milan Head Rabbi
The archaic elements in Genesis: the view from Hebraism
Prof. Dalil Boubakeur, Paris Mosque
The Meccah, the Kaaba and the ancient roots of Islam
Dr. Techeng Kong, the 79-th descendent of Confucius, Taiwan
Preconfucian roots of Confucianism
- ----------------------------------------
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