Nini wrote:Having read again over it, I have a question for Enthusiast. You speak of fixed bodies, what are they and how does their deviation helps you get an answer?

Maths - init :)[/quote]

Only within this galaxy. That's the problem I have here. How do you correct to something galacto-centric (to coin a phrase) if you don't know how the mass is distributed? I’m not sure why you think I am positioning myself on Earth for the ‘galactic equator’ viewpoint, Sput. I accept it’s theoretica...

Sput wrote:Interesting explanation, stu. But I imagine they'd have to correct out of a geocentric co-ordinate system to a heliocentric one in order to find the centre of rotation anyway?

Isn't that done as a matter of course when calculating anything beyond our Solar System?

Nini wrote:You did, good enough. Anyway, I know Mark is an armchair scientist so what's your excuse?

I'm nothing more than an enthusiast, but I rue the day I can't enjoy searching out knowledge.

Gavin Scott wrote:

Inspector Sands wrote:Some day, my plinth will come :lol:

:lol:

Lights on *AND* sans-drapes!

I don't think any of the 'Nerds', as you politely call them, are likely to respond to such an invitation.

Nini wrote:So, of the three nerds here which of you happen to actually deal with science (proper science mind) as a job and not just armchair physicists?

I think you'll have to provide a paper for discussion on the meaning of 'Proper Science', Nini.

Hmmm. How does one measure the exact location of the galactic plane? By finding the centre of rotation (the gravitational centre of our galaxy), noting the deviance over time against other fixed objects outside it, and then calculating the median. That provides a ‘theoretical galactic plane’. Unles...

Hmmm. While the Mayans did build some impressive things in the middle of the rainforest I suspect their knowledge of the universe was somewhat limited. For example they sacrificed people to keep the sun god happy. I predict there will be many sacrificial slaughters before The Sun god before June 20...

It's just from our point of view, and that's what stuart's talking about. That basically makes it meaningless since it's measured from an arbitrary location, Perhaps I was using the wrong terminology when asking my question, but I am grateful for your clarification, Sput. The ‘galactic equator’ is ...

http://up.metropol247.co.uk/Sput/ass_cdd.GIF At least Sput's awful scrawl gave me something to chuckle at in this thread, at last! I find the subject very interesting, but my knowledge is unfortunately restricted to what little I can glean from the various Discovery/Eden/NatGeo Channel documentarie...