07-31-2017, 04:55 PM
Trying to explain things rationally to this type of person can often be fruitless. I could point out a number of reasons there isn't a firmament holding back biblical waters, but they would just say all the data are fake and made up. The satellite TV dish experiment would be enough to convince most people but if you're so firmly set in your beliefs, you'll find another reason to disbelieve what you are seeing.
I would certainly hope they would go to an observing session at the VIS and talk to the volunteers. I doubt if any would happen to know when a satellite is passing overhead, but they'll certainly be able to tell your friend to wait a few minutes while looking at the sky and they're bound to see the odd one. However, even then they'll probably just say it's an aircraft, even if they see it enter the Earth's shadow (e.g., it's a military aircraft and simply turned its lights off).
I understand the frustration. I've been dealing with people like this for nearly three decades. The field of astronomy or space attracts them like bees to honey.
Edited for clarity.
I would certainly hope they would go to an observing session at the VIS and talk to the volunteers. I doubt if any would happen to know when a satellite is passing overhead, but they'll certainly be able to tell your friend to wait a few minutes while looking at the sky and they're bound to see the odd one. However, even then they'll probably just say it's an aircraft, even if they see it enter the Earth's shadow (e.g., it's a military aircraft and simply turned its lights off).
I understand the frustration. I've been dealing with people like this for nearly three decades. The field of astronomy or space attracts them like bees to honey.
Edited for clarity.