Re: M31 3X Bigger than Thought

On 31 May 2005 06:00:59 -0700, "CNJ999" <jbortle@xxxxxxx> wrote:

>I suggest any non-believers go back and read, among a host of other
>sources, Walter Scott Houston's Deep Sky Wonders in S&T regarding the
>visually reported dimensions of M31. It's been known to be visually
>over 5 degrees in its longest dimension, as seen with wide-field
>binoculars, for decades.

Balderdash. It isn't that big photometrically (with instruments orders
of magnitude more sensitive than the eye). Such reports are the result
of lies or self deception. The brain is highly effective at extending
the size of a gradient source well beyond its actual limits; I guess
that is the source of such reports from honest observers.

_________________________________________________

Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com
.