The Priviledged Planet.

[SiriusCG]

I've noticed a number of Celestia users are interested in modeling "real world" world objects as add-ons or similar. For those of you interested in the potential for life on other worlds, and as a guide somewhat to modeling your own "life sustaining" worlds, I would encourage you to read "The Privileged Planet" http://www.privilegedplanet.com/ by Gonzalez and Richards. It's a fascinating read and quite eye-opening when you learn just how really special our earth is and it's unique place in the cosmos. You would be surprised at the number of things that need to fall into place to create and harbor life as well as provide a "platform" from which to learn about the cosmos.

I believe there is a DVD also available hosted by John Rhy-Davies, which I haven't seen, but I would still recommend the book for it''s completeness.

Cheers!

[ajtribick]

I don't believe we've had Intelligent Design brought up in these forums before... I suppose it was inevitable.

[ElChristou]

I'm not really sure but could this thread be considered has flagrant advertisement?

[SiriusCG]

I don't believe we've had Intelligent Design brought up in these forums before... I suppose it was inevitable.

The book doesn't focus exclusively on ID... There are a quite a few purely scientific hypothesis and theories brought forward as well. An example is the type of planets that could exist around stars and develop or harbor life. Another area is the physics of planetary bodies and their potential effects on the creation of atmosphere, water masses and dry land masses. There is also an excellent section describing the most likely types of planets that would attend a particular solar type. It's interesting reading IMO.

I'm not really sure but could this thread be considered has flagrant advertisement?

I don't want to sound touchy but considering the definition of the word "flagrant" is "conspicuously offensive" I fail to understand your use of the term in this regards. Do you consider my post to be "offensive" in some way? I'm not affiliated with the authors or publishers in any way and I don't stand to gain anything from mentioning this particular book other than a personal satisfaction in offering it as a source of information to share with the Celestia community. If you feel that my post on this subject violates a forum rule, by all means please inform the moderator and have it removed.

Cheers!

[chris]

I'm not really sure but could this thread be considered has flagrant advertisement?

It's true that advertising isn't permitted here, however recommendations are just fine. I don't know anything about "The Privileged Planet" but the tone of post is appropriate for this forum, and SiriusCG has posted in the forums in the past about topics unrelated to the book.

--Chris

[t00fri]

I'm not really sure but could this thread be considered has flagrant advertisement?

I don't want to sound touchy but considering the definition of the word "flagrant" is "conspicuously offensive" I fail to understand your use of the term in this regards.
...
Cheers!

In French, the same word 'flagrant' exists, too. For a French speaking person it sounds quite appropriate and certainly not offensive. In international forums (and otherwise ) it's always helpful to speak several languages

Christophe's mother tongue IS indeed French.

F.

[Fightspit]

Probably, he wants to use "flagrant" to say "obvious" or "blatant"

http://www.wordreference.com/fren/flagrant

[ElChristou]

Damn, I had to see the definition in English; in French the idea is more "unsubtle", "evident"... As it's a french word I was thinking the meaning was the same, sorry...

CiriusG, perhaps it's my English, but your speech sounds really like and 'unsubtle" add to me, sorry...

[ajtribick]

This isn't really about using Celestia in education is it? This thread should perhaps move to another forum.

[selden]

Since this is not about Celestia, I've moved it to the Purgatory forum.

[SiriusCG]

No worries guys... And the reverse in true for me, ElChristou, I never considered the French meaning of the word... (I failed French in school and took German and Spanish instead).

[Hungry4info]

I personally don't believe enough information has been gathered to determine if ours is a "unique" planet. So far it seems there are lots and lots of planets, but everything we've found so far is rather hostile. We simply haven't the technology or the dedication to find a habitable world.

Now for that five-year Alpha Centauri campaign, I really hope that works out.

Additionally, even if we find a habitable planet, we won't know it's habitable. Let's take Gliese 581 c and d as examples. We know they're temperatures are right support at least some sort of primitive life, but we haven't the ability to determine whether they do or not. (yet?)

[ElChristou]

...but everything we've found so far is rather hostile.

Why hostile? perhaps there is some guys who are very happy to leave on those planets!

[LordFerret]

I'm not really sure but could this thread be considered has flagrant advertisement?

Considering the light inwhich his post was presented, I don't see it as advertising but more that of a reference source.