Xref: utzoo sci.astro:4494 sci.space:12498
Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!mit-eddie!uw-beaver!ssc-vax!shuksan!tahoma!jpg3196
From: jpg3196@tahoma.UUCP (James P. Galasyn)
Newsgroups: sci.astro,sci.space
Subject: Re: Catch-A-Planet (was:Re:Curiosity)
Summary: Sirius and Dogon tribe
Message-ID: <479@tahoma.UUCP>
Date: 19 Jul 89 16:54:00 GMT
References: <7092@medusa.cs.purdue.edu> <790@censor.UUCP> <2729@ohstpy.mps.ohio-state.edu>
Organization: The Boeing Co., BCA FSL, Seattle, WA
Lines: 38

In article <2729@ohstpy.mps.ohio-state.edu>, pedro@ohstpy.mps.ohio-state.edu writes:
 
>   You see, the chances of detection will strongly depend on the method of
> observation. In most cases we are far from having the appropriate tech-
> nology, but in other cases we are pretty close. 

[stuff on detecting terrestrial planets around other stars deleted]
 
> * by contacting people in those planets. Self-explanatory.
 
 Off-the-wall observation here, which probably belongs in
 talk.religion.newage:  the Dogon tribe, among others in Africa, have rather
 precise astronomical information on the period of Sirius B, the white
 dwarf companion of Sirius.  It can't be seen by the naked eye (by a long
 shot), yet this knowledge is thousands of years old.  When asked how they
 know this, the shamans answer that they just speak to the inhabitants of
 a planet orbiting around there.  Dialogs with the "Sirius beings" are 
 very old, dating to at least pre-pyramid Egypt.

 Now, I wouldn't want to be living next to any blue-white giants like
 Sirius, but maybe somebody can.  Maybe we're going about this SETI thing
 the wrong way.  We should be hiring shamans from Africa to search through
 the nearest stars...

 Only half-joking,


                  .                  	I've seen things you people wouldn't
    DEATH       .  ..                	believe.  Attack ships on fire off
              .     . .              	the shoulder of Orion.  I've  watched
      .     .        .  .            	sea-beams glitter in the dark by the
    .  .. .           .   .   .      	Tannhauser gate.  All these moments
  .     . .            .    .  ..    	will be lost in time, like tears
.        .  .           .     . . .  	in rain.   Time to die.   - Roy Baty