Unusual daytime occultation of Jupiter

From Paul Floyd's Astronomy & Space Website http://www.paulfloyd.id.au

Interested in observing a planet during the daytime? Assuming you have clear skies, you will have the opportunity to do so on Thursday June 16th 2005 (Australian) when the Moon will either pass underneath or in front of Jupiter.

Best times vary depending on your location - between 3.30 pm and 4.30 pm will be best. Note that locations North of Brisbane will be able to watch Jupiter disappear behind the Moon. If you are south of Brisbane, it will be a close encounter only.

A small telescope will provide you will the best views of this event. Note that binoculars MAY also allow you to see Jupiter next to the Moon. This will be determined by the clarity of the atmosphere on the day.

A one page information sheet showing the planets location relative to the Moon can be downloaded from the front page of http://www.paulfloyd.id.au
Look under the 'Astronomy & Space News currently unfolding ....' heading (top right hand side of the page).

And it starts again...

I was digitising a video for some very nice people who manufacture horse treadmills (Classic Treadmills -- I'm showing them how to put together a homepage for their business). While I was setting up the video I heard through the TV tuner something that made my heart sink. It was the beginning of the next propaganda round against the poor here in Australia.

The right-wing politicians do this every time they ruin the economy. They eye off the social security money greedily, and launch a propaganda campaign against the poor bastards who've already lost their jobs or are having difficulty landing work, or are sick or retired: those on the dole and pensions.

What they do is get the radio chat shows, TV "current affairs" programs, gossip mags, and newspapers to find a few people who rort the system and they splash it all over the airwaves and front pages. "Look how these people steal your taxes!" is the usual cry. What they never mention is that 99% of people on the dole or pension are there because they genuinely need it, and the few who do scam the system are a tiny constant; they don't suddenly increase in numbers when the right-wingers run the ship of state aground.

Don't be taken in by the bastards! Don't let people around you echo this shallow crap, because after they attack those most vulnerable, you are next target.

Of course people shouldn't be running social security scams, but the agenda is not to catch a few crooks, but to further screw all those who have already been worst hit by the damaged economy. It has nothing to do with justice. It is a simple trick like the distraction that magicians use.

Not only does this kind of thing further damage the most vulnerable in society, but it tears deep rifts in our society by pitting one group against another. It damages us all. Howard and his band of liars need to reverse some of the damage they've done, not blame the victims and steal what little the poorest have.