130. The stars are nearer than science maintains because stars can’t be seen simultaneously through two parallel tubes

"From “Earth Not a Globe!” by Samuel Rowbotham, " Take two carefully-bored metallic tubes, not less than six feet in length, and place them one yard asunder, on the opposite sides of a wooden frame, or a solid block of wood or stone: so adjust them that their centres or axes of vision shall be perfectly parallel to each other. Now, direct them to the plane of some notable fixed star, a few seconds previous to its meridian time. Let an observer be stationed at each tube and the moment the star appears in the first tube let a loud knock or other signal be given, to be repeated by the observer at the second tube when he first sees the same star.  A distinct period of time will elapse between the signals given. The signals will follow each other in very rapid succession, but still, the time between is sufficient to show that the same star is not visible at the same moment by two parallel lines of sight when only one yard asunder. A slight inclination of the second tube towards the first tube would be required for the star to be seen through both tubes at the same instant. Let the tubes remain in their position for six months; at the end of which time the same observation or experiment will produce the same results— the star will be visible at the same meridian time, without the slightest alteration being required in the direction of the tubes: from which it is concluded that if the earth had moved one single yard in an orbit through space, there would at least be observed the slight inclination of the tube which the difference in position of one yard had previously required.  But as no such difference in the direction of the tube is required, the conclusion is unavoidable , that in six months a given meridian upon the earth 's surface does not move a single yard , and therefore, that the earth has not the slightest degree of orbital motion."" 


Historical quote proving that Rowbotham is a liar and Dubay repeats anything without verification

Rather bizarrely Rowbotham doesnt actually state of the main conclusions of the experiment, but I will assume he has.

The Stars are nearer than science maintains

Do the experiment.  If the tubes are truly parallel the star WILL be visible at the same time through both tubes.  Rowbotham is obviously confident in his audience’s laziness that he is willing to assert something that is easily shown to be a complete lie.

I may be misjudging Rowbotham here.  He may just have been guilty of conducting a sloppy experiment.  He does not explain how he ensures that the tubes are truly parallel.  Any slight deviation would make the experiment invalid.  Secondly, he relies on the reaction time of the two observers to be exactly the same.  How he could ensure this is beyond me and is enough for me to think that any result would be suspect.

However, if you care about the truth I challenge you to actually do this experiment. With modern technology it should be relatively easy to perform the experiment properly.

The same stars are visible 6 months apart in the exact same location

Here Rowbotham exposes himself as a shameless liar or possibly just an idiot.  All you need to do here is glance up at the sky at night to prove this wrong.  The constellations visible in the sky are completely different 6 months apart.   Perhaps he meant to say 12 months appart ...  but of course that would be completely compatible with a spherical Earth orbiting the Sun.

The Summer night sky in the northern hemisphere:

Source: https://oneminuteastronomer.com/9953/summer-night-sky-northern-hemisphere/

The Winter night sky in the northern hemisphere:

Source: https://oneminuteastronomer.com/9959/winter-night-sky-northern-hemisphere/

The following link allows you to specify specific date/times, latitudes and direction.
https://in-the-sky.org/skymap.php


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