Stott Notes #3

McCarrick, Allan (MCCARRIC@mailgate.navsses.navy.mil)
Fri, 16 May 1997 09:22 EST

This is my final list of notes from the astronomy problems talk delivered
April 25 in Maryland.

21. The Cassini Division in the rings of Saturn were assumed to be empty
by the NASA engineers planning the Voyager flight path. Gravitational
interaction with the nearest moons over billions of years would have
moved all dust out. Voyager's photos showed that there remains much
material. Therefore the ring system is young.

22. The rings are measured to be collapsing inward. Therefore they are
young.

23. Comets (here I must take a pot shot - I'm sure he used a photo of a
meteor - red, bring "tail", bright background) are shortlived critters.
They emit massive amounts of gas/dust. Therefore there continued
presence argues for a young solar system.

24. The theory of the Oort cloud is totally unproven, along with any
traveling neighbor star. The orbits of comets show that they could not
have come from such a symmetrical source. Therefore the solar system is
young.

25. Astronomers are dishonest - publishing theories already known to be
false in peer reviewed journals. Deminson (sp), Feedler, Johnson
reported a disappearing Quasar in NATURE (couldn't read the date). They
theorized a drifting cloud had obscured it. Others in ASTRONOMY state
that the author's mechanism is known to be false. Therefore all
astronomers are dishonest people.

I am troubled by the zeal of some Christian speakers, and audiences in
finding fault in science and scientists. The chuckles from the audience
at several points is sad.

When school ends, I hope to pursue these issues. Thanks for those of you
who have given me some feedback. I still need to write a letter to the
organization to express my concerns.

Al
mccarric@mailgate.navsses.navy.mil