A Tale of Two Infinities

The spectacular advances of modern astronomy have opened our horizon on an unexpected cosmos: a dark, mysterious Universe, populated by enigmatic entities we know very little about, like black holes, or nothing at all, like dark matter and dark energy. In this book, I discuss how the rise of a new discipline dubbed multimessenger astronomy is bringing about a revolution in our understanding of the cosmos, by combining the traditional approach based on the observation of light from celestial objects, with a new one based on other ‘messengers’—such as gravitational waves, neutrinos, and cosmic rays—that carry information from otherwise inaccessible corners of the Universe. Much has been written about the extraordinary potential of this new discipline, since the 2017 Nobel Prize in physics was awarded for the direct detection of gravitational waves. But here I will take a different angle and explore how gravitational waves and other messengers might help us break the stalemate that has been plaguing fundamental physics for four decades, and to consolidate the foundations of modern cosmology.

Comets, Water, and Big Bang Nucleosynthesis

We argue that the cosmological origin-of-life problem is tightly connected to the origin-of-water problem, because life is not possible without abundant water. Since comets are astronomically dark and composed of water, as well as possessing microfossils, they are an underestimated candidate for the origin of life. If in addition dark matter is composed of comets, then water outweighs the visible stars, possibly solving several cosmological mysteries simultaneously. This motivates us to consider how it is possible to build a cosmological model in which water is formed in the Big Bang and then hidden from modern astronomy. In the process, we discover that magnetic fields play an important role in making water, as well as addressing several well-known deficiencies of the standard lambda-CDM cosmological model of the Big Bang. We do not see this paper as a demonstration but as an outline of how to address the origin of life problem with dark comets.

SUPREME THEORY OF EVERYTHING: Theoretical Formulation of The Spectral Density of Electromagnetic Radiation Emitted By A Nonblack Body

Hertzsprung-Russel Diagram (HRD) plots each star on a graph measuring the star’s brightness concerning its temperature (color) between 2000K and 50000 K. It registered about 90 percent of the stars in the universe, including the Sun, located in the main sequence branch of stars in HRD. HRD is an experimental diagram, and its theory could be supposed to be Planck's law. However, Planck's law itself is empirical and contradicts recorded astronomical experimental data. Modern astronomy can observe celestial bodies in space, with surface temperatures ranging from 0 Kelvin to millions of degrees. During this time either Planck's law or HRD didn't develop. In this paper, the spectral density of electromagnetic radiation of non-black bodies is described theoretically.

THE DISTINCTIONS OF THE BEGINNING PRAYING TIME CALCULATION BY RINTO ANUGRAHA

Praying (Shalat) is a fundamental ritual for moslem. Moslem must have deep understanding about praying time in doing Shalat. In this era, many astronomy and falak scholars make a guideline or formula of an algorithm of the beginning of praying time calculation. One of them is a physic lecturer from Gajah Mada University who concern about calculation, specifically about Islamic astronomy (Falak). He designs algorithm of the beginning of praying time schedule on his book “Mekanika Benda Langit (Celestial Mechanics)” and his personal blog to access the program of the beginning praying time calculation. This work is a kind qualitative research which use library research method. By using descriptive explanatory method, the author will scrutinize factor which differ the calculation of the beginning praying time by Rinto Anugraha that will be compared to the beginning of praying time by Ministry of Religious Affairs of Indonesia. In this study, the authors analyzed that the solar declination data and the equation of time used were calculated manually by looking for initial data from Julian Day. The program presented in the early Rinto Anugraha prayer time algorithm based on modern astronomy is very friendly for the user. In the implication of hisab, Rinto Anugraha uses a constant sun height of -18 ° for the evening prayer time and -20 ° for the dawn prayer time.

Modern Astronomy in Ottoman Madrasa Circles in the First Half of the 19th Century

The use of telescopes for scientific purposes has significantly changed our knowledge of the structure of the Solar System. By the mid-19th century, two new planets, a dozen asteroids, and dozens of satellites had been added to the five planets known since ancient times. The Ottoman scientific circles did not turn their back on these developments in the West but reflected them in their works. However, the main thesis about the transfer of current knowledge is that this transfer had mainly been done by modern educational institutions at a speed not too high. This claim is expressed more powerfully when considering the madrasa environment in particular. The literature states that the first work from a madrasa to mention the two new planets of Uranus and Neptune that were discovered in the modern period is Ḳonevī’s (d. circa 19th century) Tanqīḥ al-ashkāl, written after 1857. This means a delay of 76 years for Uranus and at least 11 years for Neptune. This article aims to demonstrate that the first works to mention Uranus and Neptune did not originate from modern educational institutions and that the delay regarding the transfer of information did not occur as mentioned in the literature. This study shows that the first work to mentions Uranus was Tashīl al-idrāk, written by Ḳuyucakḳlızāde (d. 1263/1847) in 1831 and originating from a madrasa and that the first work to mention Neptune was Ḥayātīzāde’s (d. 1267/1851) Afkār al-jabarūt, written in 1847, again originating from a madrasa, and published in 1848. Thus, this study hopes the exiting hypothesis in the literature, which has a great deal of support, will start to be questioned based on these examples.

Astronomy

The textbook presents almost all sections of modern astronomy: a historical overview, the basics of practical astronomy, the laws of motion of celestial bodies, the structure of the Solar system, methods of astronomical research, basic information about the Sun, stars, planets, galaxies and the Universe as a whole. To work with the textbook, you need knowledge of the main sections of mathematics, physics and chemistry in the volume of the high school course. At the end of the paragraphs, there is a list of questions for better assimilation of the material, as well as tasks focused on preparing for the Unified State Exam in physics. Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of secondary vocational education of the latest generation. For students of the 11th grade, students of secondary special educational institutions and anyone interested in the problems of modern astronomy.

On Being Late: Cruising Mauna Kea and Unsettling Technoscientific Conquest in Hawai‘i

Conquest of new frontiers in the universe requires the colonization of old ones. This article interrogates technoscience desires to explore outer space, and how time and territory for discovering extraterrestrials and habitable planets are organized through settler colonialism on our own. Examining modern astronomy at Mauna Kea, I argue the technoscientific promise of the Thirty Meter Telescope hinges on a temporality of lateness—late to show up and late in time—that contributes to the dehumanization, elimination, and dispossession of Kanaka Maoli, the Indigenous people of Hawai‘i. I demonstrate further that kia‘i—mountain protectors—unsettle technoscientific conquest by cruising Mauna Kea as an alternative tempo that disrupts the pace of building the observatory.