Quoting "Mark J. Reed" <markjreed@...>:
> MJR> How, exactly, does it constitute *more* common sense to maintain that
> the
> MJR> positions of stars many light-years away are actually relevant to the
> MJR> goings-on here, rather than just a convenient reference point? :)
>
> AJ> That the constellations actually have physical existence?
>
> In what sense? You're talking about essentially randomly-selected stars
> at greatly-varying distances from Earth which happened to look like they
> made a particular pattern to some ancient Mesopotamian type. That's a
> pretty far stretch for "physical existence". :)
A constellation is basially a conical chunk of stars with the apex at Earth
with an arbitrary space angle. It has the same sort of physical existence as
has the piece of the Atlantic between degrees 23.5 and 31.9 North. Or as
Oklahoma for that matter.
> MJR> Why do you think They created us with ten each of fingers and toes?
>
> AJ> To make us realize the cosmic importance of 1024.
>
> Nah, I think it's 36 which is the important number.
I must admit I fail to see how 36 connects to the #s of fingers and toes. The
Gods be subtle.
Andreas