Flat Earth vs. Geometry

As mentioned in the last newsletter, I’ve been asked repeatedly by readers over the years to debunk flat earth-ism.  I’ve not done much, though I briefly touched on it in that edition with respect to lunar eclipses.  I’ve resisted delving into the subject of flat earth.  For one thing, I’ve been teaching serious astronomy for over 25 years, and don’t… Continue reading

THE WINTER SOLSTICE

WINTER BEGINS today, December 21, 2021, at 10:59 AM EST. This is the precise moment that the Sun reaches its maximum southern declination. At this moment, the Sun “stands” and reverses its apparent southerly motion and begins to head north again, as seen from a geocentric perspective. Winter begins for the northern hemisphere, and the days begin to grow longer… Continue reading

30 YEARS OF CLASSICAL ASTRONOMY

(From the November 29, 2020 edition of the Classical Astronomy Update newsletter….) December 15, 2020 will mark the 30th anniversary of Classical Astronomy.  On that date in 1990, I was 29 years old and we were living in the Washington, D.C. area.  During the DC years I discovered Sky & Telescope magazine and amateur astronomy, which changed the course of… Continue reading