Surely intergalactic interactions might take a billion years, meaning we could pass through the collision zone about four times in a billion years. I've heard there were major bombardments of the planets and moons (specifically our Moon) in our Solar System about 3.8 billion years ago. Which is curiously just about the time that life arose on our planet. There has been a theory around for a while that life (in our Solar System) started on Mars and got blasted to Earth by meteor strikes on Mars. Also theories that life started in comets in the Oort Cloud and was redistributed to Earth and Mars by comet bombardments. Which makes me wonder: Did life start in another galaxy and infect our galaxy or vice versa?
I have Christian Fundamentalist friends who point me to websites claiming that the orbits and rotations of planets and moons in our Solar System are not fully understood or explained. They claim this is proof that it was all created by God or by intelligent design. I am not convinced. (The fact that science currently does not know all the answers does not mean there are not scientific answers.)
But now I am wondering if intergalactic collisions may explain some of the odd orbits and rotations in our Solar System and elsewhere. There are even scientists who are finding weird planets in space: In Yahoo!News article "Giant Alien Planet Discovered in Most Distant Orbit Ever Seen," lead researcher Vanessa Bailey, a fifth-year graduate astronomy student at the University of Arizona, is quoted saying "This system is especially fascinating because no model of either planet or star formation fully explains what we see." [http://news.yahoo.com/giant-alien-planet-discovered-mostdistant-orbit-ever-171737130.html] I would like to see more speculation on how intergalactic collisions may have impacted the development of our Solar System, or life, or evolution on our planet.
Bill Keck Staten Island, NY
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Anthony Lewis | 413 words
NOTE: Membership rates and other details often change after we have gone to press. Check the websites for the most recent information.
27–29 June 2014
APOLLOCON (Houston area SF/Fsy/Horror conference) at Houston, TX. Membership: $30 until 1 May 2014, $40 at the con. Info: http://www.apollocon.org/.
17–20 July 2014
DETCON 1 (North American Science Fiction Convention) at Detroit, MI. Author Guest of Honor: Steven Barnes; Artist Guest of Honor: John Picacio; Scientist Guest of Honor: Helen Greiner; Musician Guests of Honor: Bill & Brenda Sutton; Fan Guests of Honor: Bernadette Bosky, Arthur D. Hlavaty, Kevin J. Maroney. ConChairs Emeritus: Roger Sims & Fred Prophet. Memberships through 31 March 2014: $65 Adult, $50 Youth (13–24), $25 child (5-12). Info: detcon1.org; info@detcon1.org.
25–27 July 2014
CONFLUENCE 2014 (Pittsburgh area SF conference) at Mars, PA. Guest of Honor: William H. Keith, Jr. (aka Ian Douglas aka H. Jay Riker); Featured Filk Guest: W. Scott Snyder; Featured Filk Guest Emeritus: Peter Grubbs; Special Filk Guest: Moss Bliss. Info: www.confluencesff.org/; confluence@parsec-sff.org; +1.412. 344.0456; PO Box 3681, Pittsburgh, PA 15230-3681.
1–3 August 2014
SHORE LEAVE 36 (Star Trek oriented, fan-run convention) at Hunt Valley, MD. Memberships until 25 July 2014: $80 (18+), $50 (13–17), $20 (5-12), supporting $10. Info: www.shore-leave.com; +1.410.701.0669; PO Box 6809, Towson MD 21285-6809.
LONCON 3 (72nd World Science Fiction Convention) at International Conference Centre, ExCel, London Docklands, U.K. Guests of Honor: Iain M. Banks, John Clute, Chris Foss, Malcolm Edwards, Jeanne Gomoll, Robin Hobb, Bryan Talbot. Membership: until 30 April 2013. Attending: $160/£95 (adult), $110/£65 (young adult), $50/£30 (child), infant $3/£2, $390/£230 (family); Supporting: $40/£25. This is the SF universe's annual get-together. Professionals and readers from all over the world will be in attendance. Talks, panels, films, fancy dress competition—the works. Nominate and vote for the Hugos. Info: http://www.loncon3.org/; Loncon 3, 379 Myrtle Road, Sheffield S2 3QH, United Kingdom.
22–24 August 2014
SHAMROKON/EUROCON 2014 (European continental SF conference) at Dublin, Ireland. Guest of Honor: Jim Fitzpatrick, Seanan McGuire, Andrzej Sapkowski, Ylva Spångberg. Memberships: USD50, USD15 (under 21), concessionary (students, pensioners, etc) USD35, supporting USD15. Info: www.shamrokon.ie.
Running a convention? If your convention has a telephone or fax number, e-mail address, or web page, please let us know so that we can publish this information. We must have your information in hand SIX months before the date of your convention.
Attending a convention? When calling conventions for information, do not call collect and do not call too late in the evening. It is best to include a S.A.S.E. when requesting information; include an International Reply Coupon if the convention is in a different country.
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Information
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Analog Science Fiction and Fact (Astounding), Vol. CXXXIV, No. 7 & 8, July/August 2014. ISSN 1059-2113, USPS 488-910, GST#123054108. Published monthly except for combined January/February and July/August double issues by Dell Magazines, a division of Crosstown Publications. One-year subscription $55.90 in the United States and possessions, in all other countries $65.90 (GST included in Canada), payable in advance in U.S. funds. First copy of new subscription will be mailed within eight weeks of receipt of order. When reporting change of address allow 6 to 8 weeks and give new address as well as the old address as it appears on the last label. Periodical postage paid at Norwalk, CT and additional mailing offices. Canadian postage paid at Montreal, Quebec, Canada Post International Publications Mail, Product Sales Agreement No. 40012460. (c) 2014 by Dell Magazines, a division of Crosstown Publications, all rights reserved. Dell is a trademark registered in the U.S. Patent Office. Protection secured under the Universal Copyright Convention. Reproduction or use of editorial or pictorial content in any manner without express permission is prohibited. All stories in this magazine are fiction. No actual persons are designated by name or character. Any similarity is coincidental. All submissions must be accompanied by a stamped self-addressed envelope, the publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or artwork.
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