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Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | (show all) alancygnusx2 professor emeritus Reged: 11/25/08 Loc: CA New S + T for Feb 2013 goes off topic       #5594874 - 12/29/12 06:38 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I just received the Feb 2013 sky and tel. The front editorial and one of the main articles is centered on the history of one confederate submarine. I have no argument that civil war history is interesting and worthy of study. It really doesn't have a place as a major piece in an astronomy magazine. There are plenty of periodicals which deal with the history of that period. Its not like there is a shortage of topics to cover in the field of telescopes and astronomy. I have been subscribing to Sky and tel for years and hope to continue doing so. If the editor continues to use sky and tel as a vehicle for expressing his interest in the civil war, I won't be renewing. Sky and tel needs to return to its roots, their older magazines are much more on target. Post Extras:       David Knisely Postmaster Reged: 04/19/04 Loc: southeastern Nebraska Re: New S + T for Feb 2013 goes off topic [Re: alancygnusx2]       #5595331 - 12/29/12 11:35 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I think you might need to re-read the article. It is about the Moon and tides playing major roles in the successful attack and disappearance of the Confederate submarine CSS Hunley. They have done similar articles on the way the sky was related to various historical events for many decades, so this is no surprise (and is still on-topic). Clear skies to you. Post Extras:       davidpitre Post Laureate Reged: 05/10/05 Loc: Central Texas Re: New S + T for Feb 2013 goes off topic [Re: David Knisely]       #5595432 - 12/30/12 01:00 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I ,myself, have not been so big on these "gee wiz" "where was the moon on such and such event?" articles. Post Extras:       alancygnusx2 professor emeritus Reged: 11/25/08 Loc: CA Re: New S + T for Feb 2013 goes off topic [Re: David Knisely]       #5595499 - 12/30/12 02:44 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: I think you might need to re-read the article. It is about the Moon and tides playing major roles in the successful attack and disappearance of the Confederate submarine CSS Hunley. They have done similar articles on the way the sky was related to various historical events for many decades, so this is no surprise (and is still on-topic). Clear skies to you. The focus and writing in the article primarily relates to historical events, so I will respectfully disagree with the idea that this article is on-topic. Here on CN, in any thread related to astronomy, posts going on in great length about a confederate submarine would quickly be cut off by the moderator. We are lucky we have good moderators here on CN. Of note they are dedicated amateurs and not paid professional editors, and yet they have shown and would show better editorial sense. Sky and tel comes out only 12 times a year, and each issue is not lenghty. Devoting 6 pages is way too much to this historical topic primarily because it means an important topic directly related to astronomy gets pushed out. Post Extras:       simpleisbetter Carpal Tunnel Reged: 04/18/11 Re: New S + T for Feb 2013 goes off topic [Re: David Knisely]       #5595624 - 12/30/12 07:00 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: I think you might need to re-read the article. It is about the Moon and tides playing major roles in the successful attack and disappearance of the Confederate submarine CSS Hunley. They have done similar articles on the way the sky was related to various historical events for many decades, so this is no surprise (and is still on-topic). Clear skies to you. So? The weather, moon, tides, etc were a BIG factor in the Normandy invasion. This has been the case in countless battles and events in history and is already common knowledge. Night travel in the desert was also based on such things, and well-documented. Big deal, these are trivialities. Are we becoming so self-serving that going to start looking at every historical event and try to insert/impose our hobby in ways that come across not only to the general public, but also many of ourselves, as trivial, arrogant, and blowing our own horn over things that don't matter? Post Extras:       CounterWeight Postmaster Reged: 10/05/08 Loc: Cloudyopolis, OR. Re: New S + T for Feb 2013 goes off topic [Re: simpleisbetter]       #5595776 - 12/30/12 09:57 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Let's try posing as one of those grouping questions... Sky | Telescope | Sunken Submarine which one doesn't belong? Post Extras:       rmollise Postmaster Reged: 07/06/07 Re: New S + T for Feb 2013 goes off topic [Re: alancygnusx2]       #5595930 - 12/30/12 11:19 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: I just received the Feb 2013 sky and tel. The front editorial and one of the main articles is centered on the history of one confederate submarine. I have no argument that civil war history is interesting and worthy of study. It really doesn't have a place as a major piece in an astronomy magazine. There are plenty of periodicals which deal with the history of that period. Its not like there is a shortage of topics to cover in the field of telescopes and astronomy. I have been subscribing to Sky and tel for years and hope to continue doing so. If the editor continues to use sky and tel as a vehicle for expressing his interest in the civil war, I won't be renewing. Sky and tel needs to return to its roots, their older magazines are much more on target. I assume you didn't actually read the article, since this fine piece is indeed intimately linked to astronomy. Post Extras:       rmollise Postmaster Reged: 07/06/07 Re: New S + T for Feb 2013 goes off topic [Re: CounterWeight]       #5595933 - 12/30/12 11:21 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Let's try posing as one of those grouping questions... Sky | Telescope | Sunken Submarine which one doesn't belong? That's easy: "None of the above." This is an ecellent piece, does have to do with astronomy--though it may not be the sort of article you like to read--and I believe will go down as a Sky and Telescope classic. Post Extras:       BobinKy Post Laureate Reged: 04/27/07 Re: New S + T for Feb 2013 goes off topic [Re: rmollise]       #5596030 - 12/30/12 12:11 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I read and enjoyed Stevenson's article on "The Moon and the Mystery of the Hunley" in Sky and Telescope (February 2013). This article is well researched and well written. Astronomy is not just about observing or photographing--there is a practical side that can be quite valuable. Furthermore, we are currently in the sesquicentennial anniversary (150 years) of the American Civil War. Finally, many amateur astronomers are also civil war hobbyists and re-enactors. I would like to see more practical astronomy articles in the magazines. Post Extras:       desertstars Reged: 11/05/03 Loc: Tucson, AZ Re: New S + T for Feb 2013 goes off topic [Re: BobinKy]       #5596117 - 12/30/12 12:55 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I haven't read this one yet, but those they've published in the past have been very well done. They've never seemed out of place to me. Post Extras:       Rick Woods Postmaster Reged: 01/27/05 Loc: Inner Solar System Re: New S + T for Feb 2013 goes off topic [Re: desertstars]       #5596371 - 12/30/12 03:28 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Yeah; this is not by far the first time someone has submitted an article on a non-astronomy topic, but in which astronomical factors played a large, possibly deciding part. It's just a way to show how astronomical events have greater range and influence than one might imagine. Let's rephrase the multiple choice as an equation: Wartime Attack + Bright Moon = Sunken Submarine. And I have to say - it's pretty awesome that the Confederates had a submarine! Those good ol' Southern boys have always been a pretty sharp lot; probably why Mission Control is in Houston, and rockets are launched from Florida! Edit: I really do know how to spell "Houston"! Edited by Rick Woods (12/30/12 04:22 PM) Post Extras:       rmollise Postmaster Reged: 07/06/07 Re: New S + T for Feb 2013 goes off topic [Re: Rick Woods]       #5596436 - 12/30/12 04:01 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Yeah; this is not by far the first time someone has submitted an article on a non-astronomy topic, but in which astronomical factors played a large, possibly deciding part. It's just a way to show how astronomical events have greater range and influence than one might imagine. Let's rephrase the multiple choice as an equation: Wartime Attack + Bright Moon = Sunken Submarine. And I have to say - it's pretty awesome that the Confederates had a submarine! Those good ol' Southern boys have always been a pretty sharp lot; probably why Mission Control is in Housten, and rockets are launched from Florida! There is a replica at Battleship Park in Mobile, which Miss Dorothy and I visited not long ago. We marveled that anyone could be so brave, even in the final defense of our country, to go down in that little thing! Post Extras:       Rick Woods Postmaster Reged: 01/27/05 Loc: Inner Solar System Re: New S + T for Feb 2013 goes off topic [Re: rmollise]       #5596471 - 12/30/12 04:19 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: There is a replica at Battleship Park in Mobile, which Miss Dorothy and I visited not long ago. We marveled that anyone could be so brave, even in the final defense of our country, to go down in that little thing! Seriously - 110% juevos! Post Extras:       David Knisely Postmaster Reged: 04/19/04 Loc: southeastern Nebraska Re: New S + T for Feb 2013 goes off topic [Re: simpleisbetter]       #5596519 - 12/30/12 04:39 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: I think you might need to re-read the article. It is about the Moon and tides playing major roles in the successful attack and disappearance of the Confederate submarine CSS Hunley. They have done similar articles on the way the sky was related to various historical events for many decades, so this is no surprise (and is still on-topic). Clear skies to you. So? The weather, moon, tides, etc were a BIG factor in the Normandy invasion. This has been the case in countless battles and events in history and is already common knowledge. Night travel in the desert was also based on such things, and well-documented. Big deal, these are trivialities. Are we becoming so self-serving that going to start looking at every historical event and try to insert/impose our hobby in ways that come across not only to the general public, but also many of ourselves, as trivial, arrogant, and blowing our own horn over things that don't matter? It isn't "arrogance". What may be trivial to you may not be exactly trivial to others, as the interest of readers varies widely. This type of article goes way back to the almost-yearly, "star of Bethlehem" type articles that were prevalent a number of decades ago. I am a little surprised at the negative reaction to this article. To me, it was kind of a, "That's nice", article and then I go on to reading the rest of the issue, as it is only a single article out of many others. I have little objection to letting in an article now and then that refers to how the sky sometimes plays a role in historical events. It isn't overwhelmingly interesting to me (and I don't spend a lot of time reading some of these pieces), but it definitely also isn't "off topic" either. Sky and Tel plays to the full spectrum of readers (and many of them are not amateur astronomers). If you want pure astronomy, try subscribing to Ap.J and slogging through all that. If you want to influence what the magazine covers, you might consider writing your own article and submitting it to Sky Publishing (they are always on the look-out for interesting potential articles). I have done so twice and (to my ever lasting surprise) got published both times. Otherwise, if you don't like an article, then you don't have to read it. For a magazine with a little "balance", Sky and Telescope can be a halfway decent one to read. Clear skies to you. Post Extras:       MikeBOKC Post Laureate Reged: 05/10/10 Loc: Oklahoma City, OK Re: New S + T for Feb 2013 goes off topic [Re: David Knisely]       #5596738 - 12/30/12 06:57 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Just got the February issue today and I enjoyed the article; of course I am a lifelong Civil War buff and a collateral descendant of Stonewall Jackson, but still . . . there are 90 pages in the February issue counting covers, and this article only took six of them. I think it is dumb that most daily newspapers run astrology columns, but I still read the rest of it. Can't please everyone . . . Post Extras:       CelestronDaddy sage Reged: 08/22/09 Loc: Central Texas Re: New S + T for Feb 2013 goes off topic [Re: MikeBOKC]       #5596755 - 12/30/12 07:05 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I enjoyed reading the article and thought it was well written. I didn't mind that it was in the issue and would agree it did have some "astronomy" merit... Tony Post Extras:       edwincjones Close Enough Reged: 04/10/04 Re: New S + T for Feb 2013 goes off topic [Re: CelestronDaddy]       #5596768 - 12/30/12 07:11 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   from S&T's viewpoint -I doubt many will cancel -but some may subscribe due to the article I have no issue pro or con with this* edj *but have not read the issue yet Post Extras:       mountain monk Pooh-Bah Reged: 11/06/09 Loc: Grand Teton National Park Re: New S + T for Feb 2013 goes off topic [Re: CelestronDaddy]       #5596774 - 12/30/12 07:17 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I enjoyed the article, and I am definitely not a Civil War buff. I too found it nice balance to the usual stuff. 'Course my mother was an officer in the Daughters of the Confederacy, so may have been biased... Dark skies. Jack Post Extras:       edwincjones Close Enough Reged: 04/10/04 Re: New S + T for Feb 2013 goes off topic [Re: edwincjones]       #5596838 - 12/30/12 07:52 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: from S&T's viewpoint -I doubt many will cancel -but some may subscribe due to the article I have no issue pro or con with this* edj *but have not read the issue yet OK read the article maybe a little off topic but I enjoyed it edj Post Extras:       opticsguy super member Reged: 02/02/09 Re: New S + T for Feb 2013 goes off topic [Re: edwincjones]       #5597179 - 12/30/12 11:52 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I enjoyed the article in S&T. The article I found out of place a few months ago were those ten pages in Astronomy magazine dedicated to a "Rock Star/Astronomer. Wasted space in my opinion, better served with ten pages on Curiousity. Post Extras:       Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | (show all)

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