> > > Would you deny mathematicians and scientists the use of radians
because
> > > degrees are more popular?
> > Actually the same system but with a constant of "about" 57.296 between
the
> > two :-)

> Yes, in the same way that inches and millimetres are the same system but
with a constant of about 25.4 between
> them!  :-)

Yes. But inches also have a change in scaling constant when you change to
feet, and another when you change to yards. (Arguably degrees have too when
you change to minutes and seconds but in practice fractional degrees are
used as an essential part of using them in calculations).

> > .... I'm told by people who genrerally
> > get it right that they ALL changed to a 365 day year some time around
1400
> > BC. Suggestions are that there may have been a major interplanetary
> > resonance with Mars involved and a consequent transfer of energy.
> >  ....Suggested dates for closest
> > interaction, depending on who you listen to, are October 25th  1404 BC
or
> > July 22nd 1443 BC.
>
> Errr - how about a week or so ago?  That was the closest Mars and Earth
have come to each other for the past
> 60,000 years, I believe.  I'm pretty sure we didn't just gain or lose 5
days a year!  :-)

Different issues. Interbody orbital resonances can do REALLY strange things
to apparently stable solar systems, even throwing away the odd planet or two
in extreme cases. The closeness of approach is important but not the only
factor. I'm aware of Mars recent proximity - very pretty!

> > While most of these ancients were less informed than we, they were
largely
> > not stupid - especially the Babylonians.
> I think the Balylonians just had it wrong, and corrected it when they
realised, ..

Perhaps. But they had the 360 day year for a long time and it would have
been totally obvious to them within a decade if they had it worong and a
nmber of geographically isolated civilisations (apparently) changed their
calendars at the same time. The Babylonians and similar were extremely well
aware of sun and star and (some) planet movement.

Re Stonehenge - it still works they tell me (although when I saw it recently
it just seemed to sit there) - which strongly suggests equal year lengths
then and now.




            Russell McMahon

--
http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic:
[PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads