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Introduction

Dear Visitors,                                                                                                                                    April 21, 2017

Thank you for stopping at FlatEarthLunacy.com

As a scientist with college degree in Astronomy, minor in Physics and Mathematics, I was appalled to find folks telling outright falsities and presenting bad science to bolster suspicion of our known accepted reality - that the Earth is a beautiful blue globe.

This blog clearly shows scientific proofs that debunk everything that flat Earth proponents claim.  Here we also expose the comments those YouTube video channels delete, because they don't want you to see them.

The Earth is not flat.  That claim is a conspiracy theory perpetrated by ignorant people who have ulterior personal motives and agendas.

The Earth is a beautiful blue spheroid globe spinning on an axis 23.5° once each day, and orbiting the Sun every 365.25 days.

   JonahTheScientist.png

  

kind regards,  Jonah The Scientist


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Spill The Truth (Ryan Zehm) - flat Earth advocate FAIL


Dear Spill The Truth (Ryan Zehm),
   
It's unfortunate that your lack of science understanding and susceptibility to conspiracy theories has led you down this wrong path.  The Earth is a beautiful blue globe spinning on axis once per day, and in revolution around the Sun.

Summary:
Well, the truth hit the fan by the end of our conversation.  His refusal to answer SPECIFIC questions that would prove him to be wrong.

"Have you given up on flat Earth?"
Ryan says, "You mean have I joined your religion (referring to science) and share your belief? No." 

- - -  

Update: December 3, 2020

His YouTube channel now says, "This account has been terminated due to multiple or severe violations of YouTube's policy prohibiting content designed to harass, bully or threaten."

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCry_V6dfOP3lY1IVdXFCd-w/videos

Other YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/c/RyanZehm/videos

Other YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTT71dm4kawkWfz2VgH7YPg/videos

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Update: May 2, 2021

Ryan Zehm contacted me via email and proposed the following challenge...  


   Ryan Zehm 10.jpg



I replied back to Ryan with the email below...

   Ryan Zehm 11.jpg


text:

Hello Ryan,

Thanks for your email and the two pdf’s.I’m glad that you recognize there is an atmospheric pressure gradient.  Most flat Earth proponents do not.  Zero pressure at the Karman line (about 100km), becoming increasingly more dense toward the surface.
That also precludes that you accept that gravity is real force, and that space also exists. 

Please answer for me:
Are all of my above 3 conclusions correct?

Also, what are your specific flat Earth beliefs?  Those videos now seem to be gone?
Have you given up on flat Earth?
Do you have any other channels or websites than this one - 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBgdXsT-dD4eF5PQLrx23sQ/videos


With regard to your question…
“This third one is the visual distortion caused by the atmosphere for the viewer at a high elevation or in outer space, who is looking back to earth through the atmosphere.”


I don’t know of a “globe earther” per se that has done those calculations, but satellite engineers have been addressing that issue for many years now.  Take a look at the literature that is currently available on the internet...**
Here is a reference.  I don’t have the actual article.A method for detecting the atmospheric refraction effect using satellite remote sensing

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/2150704X.2016.1199082?journalCode=trsl20


Abstract:
The atmospheric refraction effect seriously restricts the precision of satellite measurements. Various atmospheric refraction models have been proposed to solve the bending effect due to refraction. But the atmosphere shows a complicated spatio-temporal distribution due to turbulences, which affects the precision of the atmosphere models. In this study, we proposed a novel method to detect the atmospheric refraction effect according to the dispersion of the electromagnetic wave. Depending on one satellite image only, we can invert the displacement of atmospheric refraction effect. And this method makes it a reality without constructing the atmosphere model and monitoring a series of meteorological data. In the experiment, two high-resolution images were used to validate the method, an inclined shooting scene at zenith angle of 30° and a vertical shooting scene as a control. The result is close to the value calculated by the atmospheric refraction model. So the proposed method is effective to detect the atmospheric refraction effect using satellite remote sensing.

**
Here is a reference.  I don’t have the actual article.JGR Journal of Geophysical Research 

The effects of atmospheric refraction on angles measured from a satellite

https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/JZ066i012p04171

**
Here is a reference.  I don’t have the actual article.Atmospheric Refractivity Correction in Satellite Laser Ranging
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/4072320
pdf - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/3204449_Atmospheric_Refractivity_Corrections_in_Satellite_Laser_Ranging

**
Effects of tropospheric refraction on radiowave propagation.
https://www.itu.int/dms_pubrec/itu-r/rec/p/R-REC-P.834-8-201609-S!!PDF-E.pdf
**
Refractive Aiming Corrections for Satellite Observations of Stars
https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/207588813.pdf

**

Let me know what you think.
kind regards, Jonah

**

   Ryan Zehm 12.jpg
 

- "You recognize there is an atmospheric pressure gradient"
Yes, I have a barometer and have measured this up to 12,600 feet. Also important is the atmospheric temperature gradient. 
- "Zero pressure at the Karman line (about 100km)"
I haven't sent any barometers this high, I don't know what the barometric pressure at 330,000 feet is. I enjoy the challenge of taking observations directly, instead of relying on the work of others- especially if the source is Freemason. So no, this is not something I agree with as it would require "belief" (to accept as fact without empirical evidence) and I am not interested in belief. Maybe you have sent a barometer to 330,000 feet and can show me the data? 
- "becoming increasingly more dense toward the surface"
Yes, I have empirical evidence of this from 12,600 feet down to sea level.
- "Are all of my above 3 conclusions correct?"
Just not the pressure at the Karman line, I don't know what the pressure there is. If you haven't gathered this data, then you utilize belief here. And by definition, belief is not empirical evidence. So unless you can prove otherwise, I would say you don't know what the barometric pressure is at 330,000 feet is- although you believe it's 0. It's synonymous with a Jehoviah's Witness sharing their belief with me, while I can amiably enjoy their company and appreciate their beliefs, and maybe even learn something from them, by no means will I adapt their belief system. I want pure, raw evidence sourced from personal experimentation and observation.

- "Also, what are your specific flat Earth beliefs?"
Unlike 99.99% of the earth's population, I do not believe in a sphere earth and I do not believe in a flat earth. It's ridiculous in 2021 that a belief is necessary about the shape of the earth- we should be able to easily do the required experiments to gather empirical evidence. But I have not been able to find empirical evidence of the shape of the earth. All sphere earthers I know believe it's a sphere, they haven't proven it. Same goes for flat earthers, they mostly believe it's flat but haven't proven it. I'm neither, I don't know if the earth is flat or sphere. From all the experiments, observations, and research I've done, I strongly lean towards flat earth. But I don't know how to prove it other than crossing Antarctica, I'm planning to go from 170° W to 10° E, coast to coast. I would honestly be surprised if the expedition is possible, I expect to encounter a dome firmament or lands beyonds the poles.
- "Those videos now seem to be gone?"
Only "Horizonal Refraction" theory video is gone as I'm remastering it and programming a computer simulation in C# which allows me to modify variables of the atmosphere such pressure, temperature gradients, and speed of light, to see the changes it makes on light waves traveling to/from earth or horizontal to earth's surface. Sphere earthers generally assume that flat earth has a homogeneous atmosphere, thus light waves travel in perfectly straight lines and one could "see" Antarcitca from Everest. This is a silly, uneducated assumption. Although utilizing a  homogeneous atmosphere is an easy way to disprove a flat earth, it's also silly and lacks any critical thinking or knowledge of physics of the air. 

- "Have you given up on flat Earth?"
You mean have I joined your religion and share your belief? No. 
- "Do you have any other channels?"
Yes, I have another channel here and recently hit 20,000 subscribers: https://youtube.com/stayaway
- "I don’t know of a “globe earther” per se that has done those calculations"
I don't know any globe earther who can produce the requested formulae either. Why has only a flat earther done this? It seems funny to me somehow the flat earther has done more research and mathematical calculation than the entire globe earth community has... and you guys out-number us by leaps and bounds! Surely with all those sphere earthers someone can calculate the mathematical formula to correct visual distortion for the viewer in outer space... nope. I'll be waiting in my grave. 
However, every single sphere earther will tell me "Just go to space, and look back at earth, then you'll know it's a sphere!" ... Yet they do not know how much visual distortion they are looking at because they have no idea that light waves are bending between their eyes and the surface of earth. Once again, this "proof" of a sphere earth requires an observer who believes that the atmosphere is homogeneous and that the light waves between his eye and the horizon are following a perfectly straight line, and he has not even considered that the image he's seeing may be manipulated by atmospheric refraction. 
This single, solitary point is what will make me continue to lean towards a flat earth, because of the outstanding lack of critical thinking from the mass majority of sphere earth believers. The guy at the gas station, the police officer, the woman walking her dog- they have years of studying mathematics and physics of the air before they could ever make the claim that "the earth is a sphere because it looks curved from the ISS".
- "The atmospheric refraction effect seriously restricts the precision of satellite measurements."
Absolute proof, from mainstream science, that my theory is correct. If the atmospheric refraction has a "serious effect" on radio waves going to/from satellites, then light waves are also "seriously effected", even for the viewer on the ISS satellite who is looking back to earth's horizon. 
These are all good documents and references, and you've found some of the same sources I did upon my original investigation. Nice work! I will also share a lot more sources for you, these are all sources I used when creating the formulae for "Horizonal Refraction". 
Here's my conclusion, which has been verified by 3 masters of Physics and their professors. This is not "flat earth theory", it's a fact according to said physicists from the US, Germany, and Brazil.
- Astronomical refraction, viewer on earth is looking at a celestial object. Refraction makes the celestial object appear at a higher / lower elevation. 


   Astronomical Refraction - from Ryan .jpg


- Horizonal Refraction, viewer in outer space or high elevation (ISS altitude) who is looking back to earth's surface.



   Horizonatal Refraction.jpg


To "see" exactly how this works, you can get a prism. Put it directly to your eyes and look at a flat surface. 


   flat ceiling and prism.jpg

Why is the ceiling curved? I've yet to meet a sphere earther who can answer that question on the spot. 
The answer is Angle of Incidence of the lightwave, and refractive index of the prism. Both the angle of incidence and the refractive index of the prism are causing the lightwaves traveling through the prism to form a visible curve, which is 100% illusory.

   
   Prism angles.jpg


Once again, almost all experiments lead to evidence which suggests a flat earth. And I find sphere earthers lackingly educated on the subject at hand, but plenty of belief! I see a religion, a group of people who all share the same belief system. While it's cute and the sense of community makes people enjoy going to church, I personally am not interested in Elon Musks' sermons. 
Without the mathematical formula to correct visual distortion for the viewer in outer space, the sphere earth community as a whole has no idea if the earth is sphere or not. For any picture "taken from space" is a distorted optical illusion, which would require CGI to manipule to image to "unbend" the lightwaves which curved between the surface of the earth and the observer's eye. GoPro has software to correct the "lens distortion", and sphere earthers equally need a piece of software to correct photographs which have been taken from space. 
In order to fix the image, you'll need to first have the formula, and it's variables are altitude, barometric pressure, humidity, date and time of day, and longitude and latitude. But remember "Just go to space and look at earth, then you'll know!" right? 
- "That also precludes that you accept that gravity is real force"
Not as described by occultic freemason Isaac Newton, not a chance. That's synonymous with asking me to accept the teachings of satan. There is a force which prevents us from "floating", yes. 
- " and that space also exists. "
I have never seen proof of outer space, no. Rainbows are complete illusions. They are only in the eye of the beholder. You and I do not see the same rainbows, even standing next to each other. How did the rainbow form? Well light waves originated from the sun and then traveled to the atmosphere where they encountered water droplets. Going through the water droplet at a 42° angle, the rainbow is 'formed'. Then finally the lightwaves reach my eye and I 'see' my unique rainbow. But it's an illusion, it is not physically real. 
So let me get this straight... if a light waves travels directly from the sun to my eye, then the image my brain interprets is 100% real and physical object?
But if the same light wave travels through some water droplets and then it reaches my eye, I'm seeing an illusion and there is no physical object?
If rainbows are complete illusions to the eye of the beholder, then I have no reason to believe the other lights of the sky are any different. 
Thanks Jonah! 


**

my reply.jpg

Hello Ryan,
Thanks for all that great info.  I will look it over and have more comments in a few days.

But for right now, I'd say it's time for you to launch a balloon and verify for yourself, what the atmospheric pressure is all the way up to 131,233 ft (40,000 meters).
I have no financial affiliation with the following company - https://www.stratoflights.com/shop/wetterballon-3000/
Rather than spend money and time developing your own balloon. just by one already proved.  They also sell tracking equipment for your balloon payload.

Description
This weather balloon is the undefeated favorite if you want to set a new altitude record. With a payload of up to 3000g and a maximum height of 40,000m you get the absolute maximum out of this balloon.

If you want to know how much helium you need, our helium calculator is available here.

-
Also, there are other companies that sell similar balloon products.
-
Here is an article I have written on the balloon topic - https://flatearthlunacy.com/index.php/2-uncategorised/1413-flat-earth-not-flatearthlunacy-articles-for-reference-t#T16

-
I would also recommend you contact Dwayne Kellum, who is an amateur balloonist, who launched to an altitude exceeding 114,758 feet.
https://flatearthlunacy.com/index.php/archive/2-uncategorised/1272-flat-earth-not-flatearthlunacy-articles-for-reference-u#U67
-
I personally know Jim Grover, Ph.D. retired from the University of Akron, who presented the following lecture to our Akron Physics Club.https://akronphysicsclub.org/index.php/archives/archive-2020-2029/archive-2020#June2020 Balloon details and history.  balloon launch off East Reservoir in Portage Lakes Ohio.  Here is a great article for you to read - how he did it...
https://qcwa21.org/special/index.html

Track the balloon here in real time - that balloon has gone around the world 6+ times already.  Using amateur radio to track it himself.  
https://aprs.fi/#!call=a%2FW8MV-11&timerange=3600&tail=3600
-So Ryan, it's NOW time for you to measure and discover for yourself if the Earth has a pressure gradient, out to at least  - 131k feet.If you don't do this, there is no sense in us talking any further, since you emphasized that you only believe stuff that you personally verify.Please send me your balloon launch results when completed.

kind regards, Jonah



**

   Zehm -15.jpg
   

Johah, my finances are dedicated to the Antarctica Expedition. That's how to definitely prove a sphere earth. It would be great to know more about the atmosphere, but it still wouldn't solve the flat/sphere earth question. After the Antarctic expedition, which entails taking sextant readings of the sun at 90° south for a 24 hour period and crossing from one side to the other, I'm happy to start a fund for further experimentation of physics of the air. 

 
The German scientist Piccard who personally took balloons into the stratosphere was also smart enough to put a prism to his eye so he could understand what was happening at a high altitude.

Meanwhile, the sphere earth community is a bunch of lazy individuals who do not collectively have the intelligence to figure out the formula I've requested from, not only you, but THOUSANDS of sphere earthers. Why won't you produce it? There's only 2 reasons:
1. Inadequate knowledge of mathematics & physics (yet tout your intelligence and superiority)
2. You can't do it, because the formula proves a flat plane and you refuse to accept this fact.
So Jonah, while I'm in Antarctica, it's NOW time for you to do some actual mathematics, instead of reinforcing your religion with beliefs. I'm sure I'll be waiting at my grave for that formula, but feel free to prove me wrong and give sphere earthers AN OUNCE of credibility. 
You may be proud to reiterate the scientific work performed by occultists as pure truth, but I think it's pathetic and shows a lack of intellect. 
Best of luck and thanks for keeping tabs on my sites and social media. Don't forget this one:


**

   Ryan 20.jpg

Hello Ryan,

Thanks for your last email.  

So for me to respond fully, and for you to fully comment, I will divide my answers into three different sections/emails.

1) Your planned Antarctica trip, 2) balloon verification of curvature and atmospheric pressure gradient, 3) your "Horizontal Refraction" math.


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

1.  Your planned Antarctica trip

I would like to go with you.  How about it?  But it must be a cruise that "circumnavigates" the entire continent.  Start at some shore line, travel with the continent on the left/right side of the boat for the entire duration, coming back to the starting point.

You will need a sextant, astronomical ephemeris, and an accurate time piece.

Please send me the info (web site address is good) on what cruise line you are looking at to take that trip.  When do they depart, where is the departure point (city/country) and how much does it cost? 

I will address the below two items in my next emails.  Till then, Cheers!  


2.  Balloon verification of curvature and atmospheric pressure gradient

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

3.  Your "Horizontal Refraction

There is not just one calculation for this scenario.  There are several, depending upon; which universal gas constant is used, the molecular weight of wet and dry air, the acceleration due to gravity, distance from the geoid to the observer, distance from the geoid to the tropopause, etc.  etc.  


I will show you all this stuff when I send you my email addressing fully this part 3.

Zehn - 16.jpg

- - - 

   Zehn - 17.jpg


**

   Ryan 22.jpg

"I would like to go with you."
Cool! I think it's a great idea to have a sphere and flat earther go on the expedition so there's no one-sided experiments / observations. However sailing around Antarctica won't prove anything for me.
 
- Pack ice prevents being close enough to even see the continent
Pack ice surrounds Antarctica year round, and few places present open leads which can be navigated to the Antarctic ice shelf. Even during the Antarctica summer, Ice Breakers are used to approach the continent. Additionally, it's very rare to have a clear day. You'd be boating through the fog and icebergs almost the whole time, not able to see anything. They don't take boats there during the winter, as far as I know. Maybe submarines.
- Antarctica is described as "the most beautiful place on earth" by nearly all explorers and scientists who have been there
Why miss seeing the most beautiful place on earth? To sit on a boat and stare at a gps screen?
- I do not believe the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station is at 90° S
Google earth lacks satellite imagery of earth south of 85° and in fact the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station is shown on Google Earth at 85° S. So where is the South Pole Station (Polheim)? I need to stay at the south pole station for 24 hours with a sextant to determine the exact longitude/latitude of its location. I do not trust GPS. 
- Only 4 people in history have ever stayed at 90° with a sextant for 24 hours to truly verify their position
Roald Amundsen, Hjalmar Johansen, Kristian Prestrud and Jorgen Stubberud; December 14-15, 1911. It's time someone does this again. 
- No "U turns" Like Colin O'Brady who achieved nothing.
Can't go to the south pole and turn around or make a 90° turn. It proves nothing. Straight across. Follow in the footsteps of those who came before us. Amundsen and Byrd both started at the Bay of Whales and went up the Queen Maud range. Thus, the crossing shall be approximately from 170° W to 10° E, about 2,200 miles. Borge Ousland crossed Antarctica in 1996 with 1,864 miles and took 34 days, manhauling with a windsail. 

southpoleexpedition.jpg
 

I live in the United States about 42° N so most likely will "practice" by going to the North Pole first for 24 hours with a sextant and sledge, and verify if GPS and sextant readings give synonymous results to see if we're truly at 90° North. I suspect we'll be closer to 85-87°. But only one way to find out.
Still in? :)
 
**

   Ryan 20.jpg


Hi Ryan,

Thanks for your last email.  Sorry it took this long to respond back.

A trek across Antarctica to the South Pole is beyond my physical capabilities.  I'm a senior citizen and would crap out on the first or second day.  So I'll have to decline.  But thanks.

But how does that trip prove the flat Earth for you?
a) at the south pole look in ANY direction, and you are ALWAYS looking north?
b) Antarctica is indeed a single continent, and does not surround the Earth as depicted in the Gleason map?
c) There is no military there to stop you, or to prevent you from exploring the continent?
d) The stars in the Antarctica sky are completely different from those you see currently at 42-degrees north latitude?
e) 24-hour sun?  travel between mid October to end of February to view the Midnight sun from Antarctica.
e) other?

The Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station is at an elevation of 9,306 feet above sea level.  For us humans that is definitely high up and you will feel the pressure difference when trying to breathe.  

Let the folks at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station know when you expect to arrive there.  They will provide a nice comfortable room for you for your short stay.  That will also be an independent confirmation that you really did get there.  To be believed, you need independent verification.  

Latitude: 89°59′51″ S
Longitude: 139°16′22″ E


- - - 

Now, with regard to item 2 that we are addressing...

2.  Balloon verification of curvature and atmospheric pressure gradient

Where you answered "Jonah, my finances are dedicated to the Antarctica Expedition."  Well, I agree that a trip to Antarctica is much more expensive than doing the flat earth balloon experiment (< $1,500) and you need to save your money, but I still think your answer is a cop out.  Not acceptable for someone who TRULY wants to know the shape of the Earth.  You can launch your balloon in less than two months and not need to travel anywhere.

New challenge to you - no excuses not to do it now TODAY - no travel necessary - minor expenditure of less than $150. 
If you refuse to do the following I will declare you to be  fake flat Earther - unwilling to find the truth for himself.

All you need is a cheap drone (from Walmart will do) and a clear horizon to watch the sun set.

Verify Earth curvature from any location on the globe, as easy as 1 - 2 - 3
https://flatearthlunacy.com/index.php/2-uncategorised/1043-flat-earth-not-verify-earth-curvature-from-any-location-on-the-globe-as-easy-as-1-2-3

So isn't it worth $150 and an hour of your time, to put this flat Earth question to bed?  Why spend the remainder of your life consumed by that conspiracy?

Watch the sun set.  Then fly your drone to 500 feet and the sun will once again be visible.  Watch the sun set from 500 feet, they fly to 1,000 feet and the sun will once again be visible.  Seeing the sun set multiple times, from the same location, just different elevations, is only possible on a GLOBE EARTH.

- - - - 

3.  Your "Horizontal Refraction

I will address this in my next email.  

You said you came up with the math yourself (yes or no) for "Math_TerrestrialRefraction.pdf, but it is line for line identical to what is the current most common solution.

... is line by line identical to the following...
Std atmospheric refraction - https://www.math24.net/barometric-formula#:~:text=where%20the%20height%20h%20above,0.00012h)%5BmmHg%5D.

- - -

kind regards, Jonah


**

   Ryan 21.jpg


Jonah, I wish you well. There is not a lack of communication between us, there is a lack of understanding. I have tried my best to understand sphere earth theory, and in regards to atmospheric refraction alone you've seen my math. I did not "come up" with the formulas for astronomical and terrestrial refraction, those are explained lightly on wikipedia. I studied the fathers of the science, Rayleigh, Everett, Thomson, Maxwell, Montigny, Arago and Biot, and I studied their papers from 1850 through the 1930 Physics of the air
by William Humphreys. To fully understand the theory, I needed to also follow along with the math and do it on paper- I've linked the pdfs.
People can call me an idiot all day long, and they do. Do you know how many sphere earth believers call me a "F$%$# idiot" yet they haven't got the slightest clue how to do the math which I have already finished? But they KNOW the earth is a sphere and I'm the dumb one? Do you see the irony? I'll ask you Jonah have YOU personally done that amount of mathematics work to prove the sphere earth theory? Or did you have to resort to linking math24.net because you hadn't the paper of your own?
But I'm the stupid one right? Whose life is consumed by a conspiracy? Which has lead me to do what? Masters in Physics level of mathematics, by hand? While the normal sphere earther, who is on your team, the everyday idiot shopper walking among Walmart, who couldn't do a lick of math to spit at, is doing something better with their life because their life isn't consumed by a conspiracy- correct?
And my Antarctica expedition, which made me read all of Richard Byrd's book, all of Amundsen's books, all of Shackleton's and Scott's books.. learn how to make Pemmican, pack enough food for 90 days survival whilst manhualing, adhere to an exercise regime pulling sleds through sand, this was all a waste of time because my life is consumed by a conspiracy right? It would be better, if I was a regular sheep of the flock- mask strapped to my face in the middle of summer, while I walk around with my head looking straight down & into my cell phone- obsessed with my facebook, twitter, instagram, snapchat, or some other elevated form of entertainment which sphere earthers enjoy. Correct?
Yep, I'm the idiot. If only I had joined the fellow sphere earthers, and just bought a $100 drone and "see" the sun after it's set- ... then I WOULD KNOW the earth is a sphere, I could get fat, buy a cell phone, stop doing math, get obsessed with social media, toss my 1850-1950 book collection out, start trying to "get laid" and other noble purists instead of focusing on life goals like crossing Antarctica... 
Then I wouldn't be an idiot. Then I wouldn't be retarded. Then I wouldn't be wasting my life consumed by a conspiracy. Then I could "fit in" with all the other sphere earth believers, I could be comfortable to know that the overweight person with me at walmart, who's buttcrack is hanging out, shares the same belief as me- that the earth is a sphere. And although they didn't graduate high school and certainly don't have the slightest idea about the mathematical formulae of atmospheric refraction, they- like me- KNOW that the earth is a sphere. Now I'm a better person.
And best of all, if I ran into Jonah in real life, we could now actually be friends. Because we share the same belief. And Johan doesn't care if I've done the math, or have completed an Antarctica expedition, if I'm fat, or in shape. He just wants to know 1 thing:
"ARE YOU WASTING YOUR LIFE CONSUMED BY A CONSPIRACY?"
So with that Johan, I bid you farewell. Instead of wasting more time typing emails in a pointless circular debate, I will spend my time doing what I enjoy. Intellectual challenges like doing complex 10 page math formulae by hand, and physical challenges like manhualing 2000 miles. Regardless of the shape of the earth, the "sphere earth" crowd as a whole is a group of people that I find morally and intellectually repugnant for the reasons described above. You previous email was an exemplification of this and that is why I've chosen for this to be my last email. 
John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Thank you Jonah and God Bless,
Ryan Zehm

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Hi Ryan,

I consider you to be well meaning, but misguided.  Certainly not crazy.  If ever your travel brings you thru Cleveland Ohio, please let me know and we can have lunch and coffee.

I also think that your flat Earth stance is disingenuous.  You are not willing to do these two simple experiments (drone sunset observation & balloon flight) on your own to determine once and for all, the true shape of the Earth.  You just want to keep the controversy going at all costs.  

But you have already tacitly accepted (but not publicly admitted) that the Earth is a globe.  Since you stand by your math astronomical calculations, where you use the "multi layer" circular sphere analysis (from space light hits a spherical atmosphere of increasing density toward the ground), and adopted tR = radius of the Earth in your calcs.    

In my humble opinion, it seems to me that you have a personal issue, trying to resolve your love for God, versus today's factual science reality?  But it need not be that way.  Perhaps the Big Bang and the evolution of life is just the right mechanism for God to develop more complex biological structures, to express greater awareness of the 5-sense based, time/space/causation reality world that we find ourselves in today.  We are after all, living in a time of great human ignorance.  By using 10% of our full consciousness only, there is so much more that we don't know, than what we do know. 
It's said "birds that fly the highest see the farthest."  Perhaps BEINGS much more developed than we look down and laugh at the human species, who walk around as if in the dark banging their heads against the walls, tripping over furniture, and creating hell and mayhem and suffering here on Earth for themselves.

With regard to your Math_AstronomicalRefraction.pdf calculations, your final numbers do not agree with what is currently established.

MATH in your =  Math_AstronomicalRefraction.pdf

You list the radius of the earth R = 6.3709 x 10^8  = 637090000 cm = 6,370.0 km.  That looks good.
You list the height for your incoming light beam H = 7.990 x 10^5 = 799000 cm = 7.99 km = 26,214 feet. 
Did I read both of those correctly?Questions:
1.  Why did you choose H = 26,214 feet, when the accepted value for the top of the earth's atmosphere is the Karman line at 330,000 feet?2.  You list the following values for your calcs, which do not jive with the current accepted numbers as listed in the table below, which I accept as the current best calcs (and you have listed that article in your .pdf library).
Why the discrepancy?  


30-degrees  =  0.35” arc-seconds
45-degrees  =  0.60” arc-seconds
60-degrees  =  1.04” arc-seconds
75-degrees  =  2.24” arc-seconds


   his calcs.jpg


where his height in meters above the surface:
ASTRONOMICAL REFRACTION : COMPUTATIONAL METHOD FOR ALL ZENITH ANGLES
https://trs.jpl.nasa.gov/bitstream/handle/2014/13945/00-0322.pdf?isAllowed=y&sequence=1



2021-05-16_12-39-21.png


3.  I have seen a Rayleigh refraction formula only with reference to a homogeneous medium.  But the atmosphere of the Earth is not homogeneous at all.  So why would you use this?

Is Rayleigh scattering refraction?

Index of Refraction (n): When light is transmitted through a material, each photon travels at the speed of light, c. However, Rayleigh scattering causes the transmitted wave to be out of phase with the free-space (initial) wave. ... Therefore, there is an index of refraction for homogeneous materials, n = c/v.


re: the atmosphere of the earth is not homogeneous!

I appreciate you answering my 3 questions.

Hope to hear back from you soon.

kind regards, Jonah


Hi Ryan,

Looks like you did not respond to my last email.  That's OK.  My offer still holds to have coffee/lunch with me if your travels take you close to Cleveland, Ohio.

I wish to address some of your other claims right now.  Please email me back with your clarification or explanation, about how I got it wrong.  

1.  Ryan said:  I strongly lean towards flat earth. But I don't know how to prove it other than crossing Antarctica, I'm planning to go from 170° W to 10° E, coast to coast. I would honestly be surprised if the expedition is possible, I expect to encounter a dome firmament or lands beyond the poles.

JonahTheScientist: Please let us know when your trip starts, so that we can follow along, and you can update us on what you discover.  After reaching the Amundsen south pole station, be sure to check in with them and provide us documentation that you were really there.  OK? 

2.  Ryan said: Only "Horizonal Refraction" theory video is gone as I'm remastering it and programming a computer simulation in C# which allows me to modify variables of the atmosphere such pressure, temperature gradients, and speed of light, to see the changes it makes on light waves traveling to/from earth or horizontal to earth's surface. 

JonahTheScientist: Please send me a link to this working program when you are done.  I would love to explore it.

3. Ryan said :  I don’t know of a “globe earther” per se that has done those calculations"  
I don't know any globe earther who can produce the requested formulae either. Why has only a flat earther done this? 


JonahTheScientist: Fact check - your claim is not correct.  In fact, globe earth folks have been the ONLY ONES to have published formulas on terrestrial and astronomical refraction for about 200 years.  The Royal Astronomical Society of London the only folks

Astronomical Refraction–Some History and Theories

https://www.osapublishing.org/ao/abstract.cfm?uri=ao-1-4-497

Abstract

Astronomical refraction has had a long and fascinating history. Cleomedes (100 A.D.) and Ptolemy (200 A.D.) were aware of its existence and understood in a qualitative way some of its properties. Alhazen (1100 A.D.) quite correctly suggested that the flattening of the sun’s disk near the horizon was due to astronomical refraction. Tycho Brahe in 1587, however, was the first to make direct measurements of the magnitude of the refraction. The first theory of astronomical refraction based on Snell’s law was that of Cassini, who in 1656 looked upon the earth’s atmosphere as being of constant refractive index up to its upper limit at which all the refraction took place. Extensive investigations of the physical properties of the atmosphere modified these ideas and led to the “concentric spherical shell model” and the “plane parallel layer model,” the latter being an approximation for the former. Attempts to evaluate the “refraction integral” for the concentric spherical shell model have led to the theories of Bessel, Bradley, Gylden, Ivory, Laplace, Mayer, Simpson, Young, and others. At the beginning of the twentieth century, investigations on the physical properties of the atmosphere extended to higher elevations, and new physical properties appeared which were not anticipated by the earlier workers. This led to the celebrated work of Harzer, who for the first time was able to compute the astronomical refraction purely from meteorological measurements. Harzer also made the first detailed investigation of the applicability of the spherical shell model, which is used almost universally by workers in this field. Harzer’s work has served as a source of inspiration, but much remains to be done. This paper attempts to give a brief chronological description of some of the more significant theories of astronomical refraction for the purpose of pointing out the types of problems which have existed, how these problems were attacked, and the problems which still remain. It also gives adequate references for those wishing additional information.

© 1962 Optical Society of America

And that has now been taken even further.  Modern day satellite engineer astronomical refraction calculation take into account the movement (in 3D) of the satellite in real time, a relativistic change, the stellar aberration correction, and other criteria. 


Now about your claim = "- Horizontal Refraction, viewer in outer space or high elevation (ISS altitude) who is looking back to earth's surface."

The windows on the ISS are not PRISMS.  

No.  Maybe you have misunderstood.  I NEVER said our atmosphere is "homogeneous."  I have always supported there being a differential air pressure gradient, 760 mm Hg at sea level, to near zero at the Karman line.

But I also said your math does not agree with current best results.  So there is something wrong with it. 
Why did you choose H = 26,214 feet elevation for your final calculations?   You didn't answer why.

The current best results...
where his height in meters above the surface:
ASTRONOMICAL REFRACTION : COMPUTATIONAL METHOD FOR ALL ZENITH ANGLES
https://trs.jpl.nasa.gov/bitstream/handle/2014/13945/00-0322.pdf?isAllowed=y&sequence=1 

Ryan said :  I don’t know of a “globe earther” per se that has done those calculations"

But I also said that globe earthers have been calculating astronomical refraction for years.  You said none have.  Many famous people have done that.   And they take into account stellar aberration and relativity.  You do not.   

Ryan said : Jonah, my theory has now been verified by people who hold Masters in Physics.

OK.  Please send me the name of some of those people.  OR send me their URL articles.  We need to see exactly what is written.

When are you going to Antarctica?

Since you believe that there may be "more land" to be found at the edge of the earth, why did you use the accepted earth radius distance in your calculations.  That is contradictory.  

PLEASE ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS

kind regards,  Jonah

Bob Measures the Curve, by Bob the Science Guy
In 2500 feet, the earth curves approximately 1.5 to 2 inches. Can this be measures with inexpensive, but purpose designed tools? Join Bob as he measures the curve of the earth in his backyard.

Details on Bosch GOL 24 Professional https://picclick.com/Bosch-GOL24-Auto... 
 


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kind regards, Jonah

*********************************************************************************************************************************

Reference: 

What Ryan submitted to me, claiming he had done the math himself, is line by line identical to the following...
Std atmospheric refraction - https://www.math24.net/barometric-formula#:~:text=where%20the%20height%20h%20above,0.00012h)%5BmmHg%5D.


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It’s important to point out that no POSITIVE PROOF has ever been presented as evidence that the Earth is flat. Only negative irrational and unscientific theories have been exhibited.

All attempts to prove the Earth is flat are based upon efforts to cast doubt on the validity of scientific data that clearly demonstrates that the Earth is a globe - rather than showing proof of flatness. 

POSITIVE PROOF you need to provide for us:
A real photograph taken from an elevation of 500 miles or more above the surface of the Earth, that clearly shows the Earth is flat.
A real photograph taken of the flat Earth edge.

If no edge, then a real photograph of the infinite expanse.

If no infinite expanse, then a real photograph of the dome.

If no dome, then at least 1,000 photos of the 25,000 mile long impenetrable ice wall.

If no ice wall, then a real photograph of the lost civilizations that are there.

If no lost civilizations, then what is your next guess?






Published on – January 20, 2019 

Discussion at - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7ipUKERU0tzYFxALJBli4A/discussion

Our home page all articles - http://flatearthlunacy.com

kind regards, JonahTheScientist


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