The Harmonic Concordance debunked

There have been at least 3 widely publicized "planetary alignments"
since the "Jupiter Effect" back in the 80's. The astrologers and
doomsday types and their adoring followers don't seem to remember
non-events very well.
Marty

Greg Crinklaw wrote:

Hi,

Ante Perkovic wrote:

snip

Speaking of alignment:
Comet C/2001 HT50 LINEAR-NEAT will be just 2 degrees from the moon during
the eclipse! This is a unique chance to see 10.9 mag comet during a full
moon )). Maybe someone can photograph it?

FYI: it should be running more like magnitude 11.9...

For updated comet information see:
http://www.skyhound.com/sh/comets.html

Hi, Greg

Where did You find that info? Is there some recent magnitude estimates for
this comet? That would explain why I can't see it in my 4.5" dob.

http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/Ephem.../2001HT50.html still gives
mag 10.9 for November 9th.

Ante

Chillyvek posted:

I thought we'd already *had* a Harmonic Concordance, or Convergence, or
whatever, a little while ago. Not much happened....I guess the solar system
was a little out of tune. Either that or the solar system is of a Modernistic
nature and tends towards a Dissonant Concordance.

Well, :-) (tongue firmly in cheek), it was supposed to be a "harmonica
Condordance". We just all forgot to bring all of our harmonicas to our star
parties, which is what screwed things up. Everyone should remember to bring
at least one to the eclipse (that way, if it is cloudy, we can still have some
music). (gad, this thread is simply too much fun to ignore). Clear skies to you.
--
David W. Knisely
Prairie Astronomy Club: http://www.prairieastronomyclub.org
Hyde Memorial Observatory: http://www.hydeobservatory.info/

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Hi Ante,

Ante Perkovic wrote:
Where did You find that info? Is there some recent magnitude estimates for
this comet? That would explain why I can't see it in my 4.5" dob.

http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/Ephem.../2001HT50.html still gives
mag 10.9 for November 9th.

I know it may come as a shock to most people, but the IAU ephemerides
don't generally use accurate, up to date magnitude parameters for the
fainter, less interesting comets. That's why I take the time to do my
own updates using the recent observations (for users of my SkyTools
software). I also make this information available to everyone on my
Comet Chasing page http://www.skyhound.com/sh/comets.html.

There are three primary sources for comet magnitude observations:

ICQ: http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/icq/CometMags.html
Charles Morris: http://encke.jpl.nasa.gov/RecentObs.html
Comet Observation Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CometObs/

Clear Skies,
Greg

--
Greg Crinklaw
Astronomical Software Developer
Cloudcroft, New Mexico, USA (33N, 106W, 2700m)

SkyTools Software for the Observer:
http://www.skyhound.com/cs.html

Skyhound Observing Pages:
http://www.skyhound.com/sh/skyhound.html

Uh-oh. This could throw some Disharmony into the Concordance. We all
know that comets are Harbingers of Bad Doo-Doo (sorry for the technical
jargon; sometimes it is unavoidable in the pursuit of Scientific
Accuracy). Best we all bring out our Aquarian Crystals and spread them
liberally about our hovels, particularly near the windows. This will
capture the energy of this Concordance, be it Harmonic or Otherwise,
and rebroadcast it through our hovels, with the effect that Harmony, if
it be that, will be amplified, while Disharmony (if that be the case)
will be attenuated by aphasia.

I ain't too sure about that astrology stuff, or the power of crystals. Being
a Pisces, I have some amythests, and I STILL get drunk!!!

Clear, Dark, Steady Skies!
(And considerate neighbors!!!)