General Knowledge Quiz

[Peter Mugridge]

What is an Iridium Flare and what is the brightest that one can be?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Is it anything to do with a causation of a satellite in the earth's atmosphere.

I will hazard a guess at -9.5 magnitude

 

[Peter Mugridge]

You're on the right track, but the atmosphere has nothing to do with it and you've over-estimated the maximum brilliance...

 

[D6975]

It's the sun reflecting off an Iridium series coms satellite. Paul's right about the brilliance though, the ones visible to the naked eye are usually between -3 and -8, but peak at -9.5. Other, non Iridium series objects floating about up there can get over -10.
The ever growing space station doesn't seem to flare though, at least I've never seen it as anything other than a constant speck.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Yes, it's the Sun reflecting off the satellites although the Heavens-Above site gives the maximum possible brilliance off an Iridium series satellite at magnitude -8.4.

Your floor, D6975 ( sorry Paul - I'd have let the brilliance bit go but not the method as well! ).



Any satellite - including the ISS - can flare but only the Iridiums are predictable as they are mainained in particularly precice attitudes within their orbits.

I'd be interested in knowing just how bright a centred flare off the ISS could be, though.

 

[D6975]

First thanks for the prompt Paul, forgotten I'd posted an answer to this one..

I've got a busy bank hol weekend spending some time with my son, so

OPEN FLOOR

 

[Springs Branch]

Which activity counts its tools in terms of Triples, Caters and Cinque (among others)?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Change Ringing in Campanology?

 

[Springs Branch]

Change Ringing is the answer.

Strictly, my question should have been phrased "....and Cinques" (Deliberately leaving off the final s, prevents the solution being the top result of a cut & paste Google search.)

Paul's Floor.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

What is the longest muscle in the human body.

 

[Welshman]

The Sartorius muscle?

[only suggested personally for of late I've been suffering pains in my knee!]

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Your are most correct.

Over to you.... and I hope the pain that you describe subsides.

 

[Welshman]

[Thank you - it was an unfortunate side-effect of the statins the nurse had prescribed for me - now I've come off them, the leg's healing nicely!]


OK - Which academic, whose paranoid schizophrenia is depicted in a 2001 film biography, has been in the news recently, and why?

And for a bonus point - what is the name of the film?

 

[Darren R]

Would that be the late John Nash, who has tragically died in a car crash? The film biography being "A Beautiful Mind," with Russell Crowe starring. (Didn't he win an Oscar for it? Or was he merely nominated?)

Open Floor if correct.

 

[Welshman]

Would that be the late John Nash, who has tragically died in a car crash? The film biography being "A Beautiful Mind," with Russell Crowe starring. (Didn't he win an Oscar for it? Or was he merely nominated?)

Open Floor if correct.

Yes - sadly it is. A tragic end to a brilliant life.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

It appears that Open Floor now applies.

 

[DaleCooper]

Who told us about their kid who was married to Mabel?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The group was...Cream
The song was.....Badge

I told you not to wander 'round in the dark
I told you 'bout the swans, that they live in the park
Then I told you 'bout our kid : now he's married to Mabel

 

[DaleCooper]

The group was...Cream
The song was.....Badge

I told you not to wander 'round in the dark
I told you 'bout the swans, that they live in the park
Then I told you 'bout our kid : now he's married to Mabel

Correct, you may continue.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Who were the triumvirate that was admired greatly by the singer who found they needed to catch the last train for the coast, who was the singer and what was the song.

 

[DaleCooper]

Who were the triumvirate that was admired greatly by the singer who found they needed to catch the last train for the coast, who was the singer and what was the song.

Father, Son and Holy Ghost
Don McLean
American Pie

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Correct on all counts.

Over to you.

 

[DaleCooper]

Here we go then:

In 1985 this comedian died after being being thrown through a window by a former associate.
What was the comedians name and to which group did he belong?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

If I am thinking of the correct one, his full name is Edward Morgan Blake.

I can offer three named connections:-
The Watchmen
The Minutemen
The Crimebusters

 

[DaleCooper]

If I am thinking of the correct one, his full name is Edward Morgan Blake.

I can offer three named connections:-
The Watchmen
The Minutemen
The Crimebusters

Correct - I was looking for Watchmen but the others are ok too.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Before surgical dressings comprising gauze and cotton were introduced, what did American hospitals use to cover wounds?

 

[deltic1989]

If my memory serves me correctly, sawdust was pressed into the wound to absorb the blood and other liquid egress.
I can't see how this would prevent infection though.
I will leave the floor open if I am correct, as I am going to Skegness with the family tomorrow, so won't have time to set a new question.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

You are totally correct.

I see that you wish Open Floor to come into effect.

 

[Springs Branch]

Which musical composer was also a keen amateur chemist? To the extent that the original manuscript of one of his pieces has stains from a chemistry experiment.

 

[D6975]

Borodin was a doctor and surgeon, didn't know about the chemistry, but I suspect he may be the one.