View Single Post
  #3  
Old December 24th, 2003, 03:07 PM
Arralen's Avatar

Arralen Arralen is offline
Major General
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: 500km from Ulm
Posts: 2,279
Thanks: 9
Thanked 18 Times in 12 Posts
Arralen is on a distinguished road
Default Re: Wrap-around maps suck

Quote:
Originally posted by Pocus:
on the other hand, the flat earth model has been abandonned some centuries ago by scientists (when they ceased being prosecuted for what they said)
... misconception I found especially widespread in the US ...

IIRC: 300 B.C., eastern mediterranean - they calculated the earth diameter .. from knowing the distance Alexandria - Luxor and the fact, that one day in the year sun was right vertical over Luxor and cast a short shadow in Alexandria.
And they got it mostly right (+- 15% or somewhat)!!

To calculate an earth diameter you must be shure the earth isn't flat at first, don't you?

A.

PS: And Galileo wasn't tortured, you know

[ December 24, 2003, 13:09: Message edited by: Arralen ]
__________________
As for AI the most effective work around to this problem so far is to simply use an American instead, they tend to put up a bit more of a fight than your average Artificial Idiot.
... James McGuigan on rec.games.computer.stars somewhen back in 1998 ...
Reply With Quote