Space Forum / Astronomy / August 2004

It takes light around 8.3 minutes to traverse one astronomical unit (AU).
Neptune is located 30 AU from the Sun, it takes light about 4 hours and 9.5
minutes to reach Neptune.
As to how long does it take light to cover the *entire* solar system, it
depends on where you consider its border to be...

gato2004_cl <gato2004_clSINESTO@vtr.net> wrote in news:cgg1uf$nbi$1
@news1.nivel5.cl:

Because their orbits are slightly elliptical, the time is not constant.  
But all you have to do is take the mean distance from the sun of the planet
in question and divide it by C.  

Mars   12.7 light minutes
Jupiter .72 light hours
Saturn  1.3 light hours
Uranus  2.7 light hours
Neptune 4.2 light hours

Pluto, of course, is not really a planet. <g>

Why not just ask ET how it is done?

Professor exposes the aliens among us

In the world of academia, Northern Kentucky University philosophy
professor Dr. Robert Trundle realizes his beliefs are not exactly widely
embraced. "Shunned" is the word he sometimes uses.

The title of his forthcoming book is, in part at least, in response to
what he calls "the cowardice and vanity of a sizeable percentage of
American professors." Scheduled for release early next year, it's called
"Is ET Here? No Politically, but Yes Scientifically and Theologically"
(EcceNova Editions, Victoria, British Columbia).

Dr. Trundle, 60, occupies an almost monastic office on the second floor
of NKU's Landrum Hall. It's a room about 10 by 10, and every available
square foot is piled high with texts of one sort or another. I was
careful not to touch off an avalanche when I sat among the stacks the
other day and asked him to boil his book down to its basics.

So what does he mean by that title? Do beings from places other than
this planet walk among us?

"Yes, I believe contact was made 50 years ago -- and I believe beings
from other planets are here now, mainly to study us," Dr. Trundle said.

"Does ET exist from a political perspective? No, because the government
is afraid of the culture shock and public panic. For the government to
acknowledge the existence of extraterrestrials here would be to admit it
can't protect us from them.

"Scientifically, I argue that thousands of well-regarded witness
accounts cannot simply be dismissed. I'm talking about pilots who have
come forward even though it's meant they've had to undergo psychiatric
exams as a direct result."

At the very least, he said, we can't use current science as the standard
for excluding the possibility of a more advanced science:

"For example, science says it's impossible to travel at the speed of
light. If it were possible, it would take four years of traveling at the
speed of light to get to the nearest star system, Alpha Centauri.

"Given our current technology, it would probably take us 50,000 years to
get there, plus or minus. Based on that, the scientific establishment
somewhat blithely dismisses the existence of extraterrestrials.

"It's like saying if we can't do it, they can't do it either."

Dr. Trundle's book is not an easy read, but it's an intriguing sampler
of UFO lore, sightings and documents, including this Freedom of
Information Act version of a March 22, 1950, FBI memo stating in part:

"An investigator for the Air Force stated that three so-called flying
saucers had been recovered in New Mexico -- circular in shape with
raised centers, approximately 50 feet in diameter. Each -- occupied by
three bodies of human shape but only 3 feet tall."

It's a subject Dr. Trundle has been chasing for years. His grandfather,
president of the now-defunct Trundle Engineering Co. in Cleveland, was
fascinated with extraterrestrials and, when he died in 1954, left Robert
a small collection of books about UFOs. His first article to the effect
that ETs are here, entitled "Extraterrestrial Intelligence: Challenge to
Theology, Physics and Metaphysics," was published in 1994. His second
book, "Illustrated News of the Unbelievable," was co-authored with
George Filer, a retired Air Force intelligence officer.

Dr. Trundle paints a virtual "Men in Black" picture of the ET scene in
which several species are visiting the earth, most in a human form. But why?

"There are benign scenarios in which they might be seen as
anthropologists coming here out of curiosity," he said.

"Then there is a more threatening scenario, which is that they're
studying to see if the earth is habitable. An even more worrisome
possibility is that they have a hybrid program of sexually mating with
humans to strengthen their species."

No doubt about it. Dr. Trundle would have an easier go of it if he stuck
to Socrates.

"But I'm trying to apply the truth in the way Socrates called for it to
be applied to everyday life," he said.

He's convinced he's right. All he's lacking is cold, hard proof.

"If I had that, it would be the most astonishing event since the
resurrection of Christ."

Contact David Wecker at (513) 352-2791 or via e-mail at sambets@choice.net.

http://www.cincypost.com/2004/07/15/wecker071504.html

Why not just ask ET how it is done?

Professor exposes the aliens among us

In the world of academia, Northern Kentucky University philosophy
professor Dr. Robert Trundle realizes his beliefs are not exactly widely
embraced. "Shunned" is the word he sometimes uses.

The title of his forthcoming book is, in part at least, in response to
what he calls "the cowardice and vanity of a sizeable percentage of
American professors." Scheduled for release early next year, it's called
"Is ET Here? No Politically, but Yes Scientifically and Theologically"
(EcceNova Editions, Victoria, British Columbia).

Dr. Trundle, 60, occupies an almost monastic office on the second floor
of NKU's Landrum Hall. It's a room about 10 by 10, and every available
square foot is piled high with texts of one sort or another. I was
careful not to touch off an avalanche when I sat among the stacks the
other day and asked him to boil his book down to its basics.

So what does he mean by that title? Do beings from places other than
this planet walk among us?

"Yes, I believe contact was made 50 years ago -- and I believe beings
from other planets are here now, mainly to study us," Dr. Trundle said.

"Does ET exist from a political perspective? No, because the government
is afraid of the culture shock and public panic. For the government to
acknowledge the existence of extraterrestrials here would be to admit it
can't protect us from them.

"Scientifically, I argue that thousands of well-regarded witness
accounts cannot simply be dismissed. I'm talking about pilots who have
come forward even though it's meant they've had to undergo psychiatric
exams as a direct result."

At the very least, he said, we can't use current science as the standard
for excluding the possibility of a more advanced science:

"For example, science says it's impossible to travel at the speed of
light. If it were possible, it would take four years of traveling at the
speed of light to get to the nearest star system, Alpha Centauri.

"Given our current technology, it would probably take us 50,000 years to
get there, plus or minus. Based on that, the scientific establishment
somewhat blithely dismisses the existence of extraterrestrials.

"It's like saying if we can't do it, they can't do it either."

More:
http://www.cincypost.com/2004/07/15/wecker071504.html