Is “Starry Night” a Trustworthy Program?
(By Carlos M. Silva)

When using the program “Starry Night” to simulate astronomical observations of cuneiform tablets, we can notice the incredible degree of precision of the program in relation to what is told in the tablets. That is by itself evidence that the program works correctly and can be trusted unreservedly. If there were any great margin of error, results would be most adverse and not as it is, of total harmony in all the cases studied. However, to settle any doubts that someone may have about the precision of this computer program, we shall simulate a recent event that can be proven by photos.

The event we chose is the first lunar eclipse of the year 2007, which happened on 3rd March. Before the occurrence the Brazilian newspaper “Folha de São Paulo” published the following:

“The first total lunar eclipse of 2007 can be seen next Saturday in the whole Brazil and through Internet…. The phenomenon will be observable from 6.35 p.m. few minutes after the emergence of the Moon. Astronomers reckon that the Moon will be completely covered by the Earth shade between 7.44 and 8.57 p.m.” - Link to notice.

Anyone who on that day could avail of “Starry Night” would have been able to connect his computer and verify whether or not the above forecast was correct. To repeat what such person would do, it is necessary first to inform the program about the location from where the “observation” will take place, supplying the coordinates of the site (latitude and longitude). For this simulation we shall choose the coordinates of the city of São Paulo, Brazil:

Latitude: 23º 32 ' 51 " S
Longitude: 46º 38 ' 10 " W

Where S stands for South and W for West.

To insert this information it is necessary to enter “Set Home Location", that is in “Go”, on the upper task bar of the application. The newspaper said the phenomenon could be observed from 6:35 p.m., few minutes after the emergence of the moon. Then, in order to check, it suffices to place the desired day and time on the entrance field of the program. And it really shows that at 6:35 p.m. the moon began to appear.

6:35 p.m. - Moon begins to appear at the horizon of Sao Paulo.

If we advance the program a little, we shall see the moon already above the horizon and the eclipse in full course:

6:55 p.m. - Moon above horizon, eclipse in progress

Advancing to 7:20 p.m., we see that the moon is now almost covered up:

7:35 p.m. - eclipse in advanced stage

Finally, the newspaper had mentioned that from 7:44 p.m. the moon would be completely covered by the Earth shade. And that is exactly what “Starry Night” shows for that moment:

7:44 p.m. - eclipse at maximum point; moon totally covered

The newspaper also said that the moon would be covered until 8:57. “Starry Night” confirms this information as well:

8:57 p.m. – the moon, now higher in the sky, continues covered

Shortly after the schedule above, the moon starts to reappear:

9:10 p.m. - moon initiating reappearance

At 9:25 p.m. the reappearance of the moon is yet more pronounced, as the eclipse approaches its end:

9:25 h - eclipse ending

The eclipse ended totally a little after ten p.m. Thus the above images, extracted from “Starry Night”, coincide perfectly with the forecast published in Folha de Sao Paulo.

Let us now look at a photograph of this eclipse and compare it with what the program shows. The photo that follows was taken in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, at 6:37 p.m.

http://www.cosmobrain.com.br/astrofotografia/eclipse2007/grupo6.php

Requesting “Starry Night” to show that Belo Horizonte eclipse at 6:37 p.m., the image shown will be the following:

Look that the moon already suffered its first “bite” and that the eclipse is beginning, as proven by the photo taken in Belo Horizonte. If we look closer at the image supplied by “Starry Night”, we shall see the following:

............... 06:35 p.m............................. 06:37 p.m. ............................. 06:40 p.m.

In case you care to perform the above simulation, the coordinates of Belo Horizonte are:

Latitude: 19º 55 ' 15 " S
Longitude: 43º 56 ' 16 " W

To see a complete list of the coordinates of Brazilian cities, consult this site.

Conclusion

What then, dear reader? What will you do with the knowledge you just received here? That will surely be your decision. Still it is never excessive to remember what James told us:

"But now YOU take pride in YOUR self-assuming brags. All such taking of pride is wicked. Therefore, if one knows how to do what is right and yet does not do it, it is a sin for him." - James 4:16,17.

Although James was speaking of a different matter, the principle he put forth in this text should apply to every aspect of our lives. Also important are the following words of Jesus Christ:

"And he went on to say to them: “A lamp is not brought to be put under a measuring basket or under a bed, is it? It is brought to be put upon a lampstand, is it not? For there is nothing hidden except for the purpose of being exposed; nothing has become carefully concealed but for the purpose of coming into the open. Whoever has ears to listen, let him listen." - Mark 4:21-23.

Therefore, dear reader, be responsible with the knowledge you just received! If you are a “Jehovah’s Witness” do not follow the example of religious bigots of the past. - See also Malachi 3:16 and Hebrews 4:13.

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