The September 9, 2004 meeting of the Champaign-Urbana Astronomical Society was called to order at 7pm by President Jeff Bryant in the Staerkel Planetarium. 15 people attended the meeting. Business was not discussed at the start of the meeting so we could view the DVD:"Universe: The Cosmology Quest". Here is what someone else (http://www.whiteoaks.com/pipermail/dobson2000/2004-March/000739.html) said of the DVD: The documentary which is about 2 hours long contains copious interviews, historical footage, as well as graphic presentations of ideas that appear to challenge the Big Bang Theory (BBT). So, depending on a person's background, one might consider it heretical or even blasphemous. Others, however, might find it eye-opening or thought provoking. It is divided into two parts. The first part presents a key empirical observation that questions the use of red-shift to deduce an expanding universe. The Big Bang Theory began when Hubble noticed a linear relationship between the observed red-shift (or velocity) vs. the distance of galaxies. If one plots this data for other astronomical objects, namely quasars, the linear relationship, however, does not appear to hold. In particular, astronomers have observed two galaxies that are apparently connected by a "bridge". While they appear to be at the same distance, their measured red-shift is quite different. Astronomers and cosmologists who have tried to use this as evidence against the BBT, however, have been routinely shunned by the scientific community. Part two begins with a brief look into the beginning of plasma theory and an explanation of the aurora borealis. This introduction to plasma theory, while not directly related to the challenge of the BBT, plays a role later on. Also, it presents another example of how fashion and politics can find its way into science. One of the often cited successes of the BBT was the prediction of the cosmological background radiation. When this radiation was finally observed, it was hailed as concrete proof of the theory. The BBT of the time, however, predicted a background radiation of 50 Kelvin whereas observation showed only 3 Kelvin. Needless to say, BBT was quickly revised to match the empirical data. It also turns out that other competing non-expanding theories of the universe likewise predicted a cosmological background radation, so this often cited piece of BBT evidence is not necessarily conclusive. Threaded into this discussion is a historical look at the Ptolemaic system of the universe. Before Galileo and Copernicus, it was routinely believed that the earth was the center of the universe. This theory, while philosophically satisfying, failed to explain detailed astronomical observations. In order to remedy this, the scientists of the time had to introduce the concept of epicycles or circular orbits within circular orbits within circular orbits... By finally abandoning the earth-centric view of the universe, however, the motion of the heavenly bodies could be reduced to simple elliptical orbits. Cosmologists who are critical of BBT claim that the dominant theory has evolved in a similar fashion. Big Bang Theory proponents have continually had to add their own "epicycles" or patches to the theory in order to satisfy its own theoretical framework as well as new observational data. Two such epicycles are dark matter and dark energy -- mysterious forms of matter and energy. The documentary finally comes full circle and concludes with a brief look at the Plasma Theory of the Universe. This alternative theory presents a much more dynamic picture of the universe. Unlike BBT, however, it has little to say about the actual beginning of the universe. *** This documentary would undoubtedly raise eyebrows in the established scientific community. Nevertheless, the film brings up some very interesting criticisms. Has the modern scientific community become too entrenched and parochial for its own good? This documentary reminds us that science should not be based on a popularity contest, but facts and its ability to make predictions in the observable universe. ------------- The DVD featured some strange choices of video effects, and the occasional use of some old black and white fencing match to add some action. I guess they felt compelled to add some action since the alternatives to the BBT just don't have as much Terminator-style action inherent in their ideas as a really, really, really, really big explosion. We are a group, mostly, of amateur astronomers. The word amateur comes to us from French and Latin word for lover, and certainly, the DVD reflects more of a passion about cosmology than hard science. After the viewing, we had a sometimes passionate exchange of views about the BBT and how well it stands up to scientific truth as well as how we feel about it. Members also got a peek at the club's new, volunteer-built, 16 inch Dobsonian telescope. You may not agree with Dobson's views ON the Cosmos, but the views OF the Cosmos from his style of telescope seem pretty darn good to this secretary of the CUAS. The Meeting was adjourned at about 9:20PM. Submitted by Bob Rubendunst Secretary, CUAS