At the beginning of the program what was the figures used when describing the coincidence of the Moon being the right size and distance from the Sun to give us the unique Eclipse that we only can see on this planet?
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Wonders of the Solar System - BBC2
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Posted 2 years ago #
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He said the sun was about 400 times bigger than the moon and that the sun is about 400 times further away from the Earth than the moon.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Sun is 400 times the size of the moon and is 400 times further away from the earth, which is why this is the only planet (that we know of) that experiences a total eclipse.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Mmm...that's one heck of a coincidence!! I mean what are the chances of that happening?
"Snigger"
Posted 2 years ago # -
The same as the odds on it being a bit bigger, or a bit smaller.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Obviously a higher power is/was at work.................
Posted 2 years ago # -
it's yer anthropocentric paradox innit?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Surely it's intelligent design.
Posted 2 years ago # -
The probability of life happening on earth is due to a number of cosmological constants. Lee Smolin suggests the chances of life happening are something like 1 in 10 to the power of 229. That is a very big number!
Posted 2 years ago # -
The sun 400 times bigger than the moon?
I would have thought nearer 400 000Posted 2 years ago # -
far too much violins & orchestras. listen!, how meaningful all this stuff that you shoulda learned at primary school is!! why measure astronomical distances in metres? get a book!
Posted 2 years ago # -
but what purpose does an eclipse actual serve apart from confusing animals?
Posted 2 years ago # -
What purpose does anything serve?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Ohh, FFS let's not do this
Posted 2 years ago # -
OK program but the constantly smiling Prof Brian Cox gets on my tits
Posted 2 years ago # -
the moon/sun size/distance coincidence isn't perfect. The distance to the moon varies (orbits are ellipses), so lots of eclipses are 'spoiled' because the moon is too far away, so too small to fully obscure the sun. and lots of eclipses are 'spoiled' because the moon is too close, and totally blocks out the sun.
the 400/400 thing is about right, but, don't confuse diameter with volume
Awesome show (too many violins).
Posted 2 years ago # -
things can only get better
Posted 2 years ago # -
would have been better if he had got all those indians to "moon" the eclipse
Posted 2 years ago # -
tyger - Member
Mmm...that's one heck of a coincidence!! I mean what are the chances of that happening?
"Snigger"
Your point being?
I sneezed this morning. At exactly the same time, in Wichita, someone slipped on a wet towel and hurt their elbow. What are the chances of that?
Posted 2 years ago # -
The moon is slowly moving away IIRC so get to see one while you can. Another few million years and it might all be too late.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Reminds me of the Father Ted scene where he's telling Dougal that the toy cows are small but the real ones area long way away. Grinning Brian wound me up as well.
Posted 2 years ago # -
People who get "wound up" by other's smiling enthusiasm about their subject, need to get over their own misery, IMHO.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I thought it was ace. Science on prime time Beeb...nowt wrong with that!
Cox has an awesome job !
Posted 2 years ago # -
"... and I managed to do all that with a tin, water, a thermometer and an umbrella..." Priceless.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Cox has an awesome job !
Almost a D:Ream job!
Posted 2 years ago # -
yep i loved it but missed the beginning
is it repeated or iplayer??
Posted 2 years ago # -
Repeated on Tuesday I think. I'll be watching it then because the wife won't be wanting to watch celebrity ice skating.
Posted 2 years ago # -
The same as the odds on it being a bit bigger, or a bit smaller.
Not sure it quite works like that, but I agree with your sentiment. Bear in mind that the distance it sits from the earth is decided by its size,speeds etc and so fairly prescribed, it's size relative to the sun is totally random. It still doesn't hint at creation though!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Heaven forbid eh coffeeking! LOL
Posted 2 years ago # -
God help me, all these creationist idiots 
Posted 2 years ago # -
At the end he mentioned that the Sun will finally die in about 5 billion years. I wonder if manwell will still have that stumpy hardtail on the classifieds then...?
Posted 2 years ago # -
coffeeking - Member
God help me, all these creationist idiots
10/10 irony points.
Posted 2 years ago #
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