04-10-2009, 06:08 PM | #1 |
Pensively observing.
Posts: 1,758
Karma: 12675456
Join Date: Jun 2008
Device: Varied.
|
Graham Hancock
I lent a pBook to a friend years ago called 'Fingerprints of the Gods' which was never returned. It's unavailable as an ebook.
To any members who have read it, I would like some remarks and opinions on the theories and facts that are posited: especially the chapter 'Machinery of the Gods' discussing precession and the change of climate. |
04-11-2009, 04:22 AM | #2 |
eBook Enthusiast
Posts: 85,544
Karma: 93383043
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6
|
I haven't read this book but, as a former astronomer, I'm pretty well up on how precession "works", and happy to comment on any theories you may care to put forward.
For those not aware, precession is the slow "wobble" of the Earth's axis through space, taking about 26,000 years to make a complete "circuit". |
Advert | |
|
04-11-2009, 06:50 AM | #3 |
Pensively observing.
Posts: 1,758
Karma: 12675456
Join Date: Jun 2008
Device: Varied.
|
Thanks for answering.
Actually, I do not have any theories. The rest of the book I was able to understand - to a degree; as it contains history, archaeology and science. None of these are my forte (to say the least) but, with the 'Climate Change' so much in the news, I was wondering if the *precession* also had a contributing factor to the changing of climates. Kingdoms have fallen due to changing conditions, and others have risen elsewhere in their place. I would like to know your opinion. When and how is the 'precession' marked? It's something that intrigues me. OK. Another dumb question: What is Planet X? I am parading my stupidity for all to see. |
04-11-2009, 07:12 AM | #4 |
eBook Enthusiast
Posts: 85,544
Karma: 93383043
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6
|
OK, imagine the earth is like a ball of wool with a knitting needle stuck through it. The needle represents the "spin axis" around which the Earth rotates. That axis is essentially "fixed" in space, relative to the stars - when we look up into the sky at night, we see the stars appear to rotate around a fixed point (called the "celestial pole"). For people in the Northern hemisphere there happens (by pure chance) to be a bright star near that point, which we call the "pole star", in the constellation of "Ursa Minor" - the "Little Bear".
OK so far? Except - it's not really "fixed"; it "wobbles" in a slow circle, taking 26,000 years to do a complete circuit. This was discovered by a Greek astronomer called Hipparcos, who probably lives in the late 2nd century BC. In Hipparcos' time, a completely different star (called "alpha Draconis") was close to the pole, and "our" pole star was nowhere near the pole. There is pretty strong evidence that the precessional cycle has some connection with the onset of ice ages on Earth, although nobody currently understands what the causal mechanism is. So yes, precession probably is connected with climate change in a fairly extreme way! Over the course of a single human lifetime (or even the course of the lifetimes of a "civilization") it's such a slow process that it's not going to have any effect (other than being a mathematical effect that you need to take into account if you're doing accurate "celestial navigation"). Any help? |
04-11-2009, 07:16 AM | #5 | |
Pensively observing.
Posts: 1,758
Karma: 12675456
Join Date: Jun 2008
Device: Varied.
|
Quote:
What about timeline? were the Mayans correct? Last edited by nohmi2; 04-11-2009 at 07:18 AM. Reason: Planet X? |
|
Advert | |
|
04-11-2009, 07:16 AM | #6 |
Wizard
Posts: 4,395
Karma: 1358132
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: UK
Device: Palm TX, CyBook Gen3
|
There is an article about precession on Graham Hancock's website (although it is written by Robert Bauval).
|
04-11-2009, 07:20 AM | #7 |
eBook Enthusiast
Posts: 85,544
Karma: 93383043
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6
|
Mr. Bauval has his "fans" (he's written a number of popular books), but in fairness it must be said that most professional Egyptologists dismiss his theories as being without foundation.
|
04-11-2009, 07:20 AM | #8 |
eBook Enthusiast
Posts: 85,544
Karma: 93383043
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6
|
|
04-11-2009, 08:11 AM | #9 |
Pensively observing.
Posts: 1,758
Karma: 12675456
Join Date: Jun 2008
Device: Varied.
|
|
04-11-2009, 08:14 AM | #10 | |
Pensively observing.
Posts: 1,758
Karma: 12675456
Join Date: Jun 2008
Device: Varied.
|
Quote:
Have downloaded. Love controversial theories!!!! |
|
04-11-2009, 10:04 AM | #11 |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 5,870
Karma: 27376
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Pennsylvania
Device: PRS-505
|
I would love to tell you why I wish Graham Hancock would die falling off a cliff and on fire at the same time, but every time I do I start twitching. So check out this link:
http://skepticwiki.org/index.php/Graham_Hancock I really hate that guy. |
04-11-2009, 10:14 AM | #12 |
eBook Enthusiast
Posts: 85,544
Karma: 93383043
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6
|
|
04-11-2009, 10:56 AM | #13 |
curmudgeon
Posts: 1,481
Karma: 5748190
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Redwood City, CA USA
Device: Kobo Aura HD, (ex)nook, (ex)PRS-700, (ex)PRS-500
|
I love controversial theories too. But I really prefer the ones that manage to take into account all of the known science/history, and are controversial only over their not-yet-tested (or perhaps not-yet-testable) predictions. When the "controversial theory" contradicts well understood science/history, it is probably -- although not quite certainly -- junk, rather than interesting.
Of course, it's often loads of fun poking holes in the junk theories. Xenophon P.S. I intend no denigration of any of the theories mentioned so far in this thread -- I haven't read any of them yet, so I don't know enough to have an opinion. P.P.S Of course, if the theory flat out isn't falsifiable, it's not a theory at all. Rather, it's then a matter of faith. |
04-11-2009, 11:06 AM | #14 |
Groupie
Posts: 178
Karma: 1546
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Rising Sun, MD
Device: Sony PRS-505; Motorola Droid
|
I'm a Phil Plait fan myself. He does a good job debunking a lot of these "theories".
|
04-11-2009, 11:17 AM | #15 |
eBook Enthusiast
Posts: 85,544
Karma: 93383043
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6
|
Yes, Phil's "Bad Astronomy" site is excellent.
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Young Adult Hancock, H. Irving: Young Engineers Omnibus. v4. 4th Aug 2011 | HarryT | BBeB/LRF Books | 3 | 08-04-2011 05:33 AM |
Young Adult Hancock, H. Irving: Annapolis Omnibus. v5. 3rd Aug 2011 | HarryT | Kindle Books | 6 | 08-04-2011 01:41 AM |
Young Adult Hancock, H. Irving: West Point Omnibus. v5. 3rd Aug 2011 | HarryT | Kindle Books | 5 | 08-03-2011 11:04 AM |
Young Adult Hancock, H. Irving: West Point Omnibus. v5. 3rd Aug 2011 | HarryT | BBeB/LRF Books | 6 | 08-03-2011 10:59 AM |
Young Adult Hancock, H. Irving: Annapolis Omnibus. v5. 3rd Aug 2011 | HarryT | BBeB/LRF Books | 4 | 08-03-2011 09:47 AM |