Did the Astronauts Take Their Helmets Off On The Moon?

Claim:

The moon landing was a hoax. Here’s photographic proof showing the astronauts with their helmets off on the moon.

“So, these guys on the Moon took a moment to take their helmets off for this picture …”

FALSE!

This is a training excercise on earth, obviously. Specifically, it’s…

Apollo 16 astronauts Lunar Module Pilot Charles M. Duke, Commander John W. Young, and Command Module Pilot Thomas K. Mattingly II during a training excercise in February 1972

Here’s a link showing that very image:

Here’s How the Apollo Team Trained for Their Historic Space Missions

2017-04-25

Debunking Flat Earth Claim of “Same Stars in Winter & Summer”

Claim:

If the earth revolves around the sun, why do we see the same stars at night all year long? (Presented with the following image)

FALSE!

Obviously, anyone that knows anything about astronomy, or even casually looks up at the night sky through the seasons knows this is just batshit crazy. Here’s a simple video of a star map showing the changing positions of the stars at the exact same time of night, over months. Anyone can independently verify this by going out at night at the same time, every night, and making note of certain stars near the horizon. Night after night, at the same time, they’re in a different position.

2017-04-25

How to Easily Stump Any Flat Earther

If you’ve ever visited a NASA post on Google+, you’ll find that they draw the flat earthers out of their parents’ basements to post barely legible (on a good day) claims that everything NASA does is fake, that outer space doesn’t exist, that the world is flat, the sun is only a few thousand miles away, as well as the moon, satellites don’t exist, gravity doesn’t exist (no, really, they actually claim that), and a whole slew of grandiose, more expensive than God to pull off conspiracy theories.

If you’ve ever engaged with them, you’ll find some of them are incapable of intelligible thought or writing and are clearly psychologically damaged, but the ones that can write in mostly complete sentences will argue with you. We’ll, they won’t really argue the point to support their claim. They’ll just insult you, your intelligence, your upbringing, pretend like they’re amazed you actually believe the world is round, as if everyone else believes it’s flat, will have emotional tirades against you, tell you you’re indoctrinated, and blast you with pointless pictures and question, but they will almost never directly answer your questions. They’ll try to overload you with ridiculous claims… so many, that it will be impossible for you to respond to them all.

I’ve found a way to shut some of them up. I ask them one simple question:

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To All Flat Earthers
Why, when I point my satellite dish to where a geostationary satellite is supposed to be, I get a signal, and when I point it away, I lose the signal? Keep in mind, this is pointed to a clear, unobstructed sky, with no mountains or towers in the way.

Already debunked answers:

Towers. The dish isn’t pointed at any. It it were, all nearby dishes would have to point to it instead of the sky. Dishes south of it would point north. But all dishes in the northern hemisphere point southward.
Balloons. Balloons can’t stay stationary. They move with the wind. Also, same positional problem with towers. Dishes would be pointed all over the place. They’re not.
Planes. Same with balloons. They can’t stay stationary. Also, the pointing problem.

Offer an explanation that explains why dishes work like that if satellites don’t exist.

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Inundate them with this question. Some will actually go away. The others will instead make themselves look even more ridiculous.

But WHY engage with them?

Good question! There’s little to no chance these flat earthers are even going to accept facts and reason. But, they are actively recruiting new imbeciles to their cause. By flushing out these kooks on public forums and exposing their idiocy, the few that might fall into their wacko way of thinking will be steered away, and that’s a win for everyone. Plus, it’s highly entertaining to see how these people try to explain the logical contradictions of their flat world view.

2017-04-25

Why can I see buildings far beyond the horizon If the Earth is Round?

Claim:

The earth is flat. The fact that I can see buildings far beyond the horizon where they should be BELOW it is proof.

FALSE:

While it’s true that in some atmospheric conditions, light will bend near the ground and curve down and around the horizon to reveal buildings and landmarks much further than you’d be able to see had there been no unusual weather conditions or no atmosphere at all, it is NOT true that the world is flat, nor is this evidence for a flat earth.

A frequent example presented by flat earthers is a photo of the Chicago city skyline from Michigan, 60 miles away. On most days, the entire Chicago skyline is below the horizon. But when the air near the surface of the water is cooler than the air above, then light bends in a way to produce a “superior mirage”, allowing you to see images of objects below the horizon. This is a temporary effect.

It’s important to note that even in this image, frequently passed around by flat earthers, that only the top of the skyline is visible. It appears as though the city is mostly under water. That’s because, even though we’re seeing further than we normally can, the curvature of the earth is still present, even in this image, obstructing the lower parts of the city. Additionally, notice the distortions of the stretched out appearance of the top of the Sears Tower.

Here’s a story about the photo on a Chicago ABC news affiliate website:

Mirage of Chicago skyline seen from Michigan shoreline

Click on the thumbnail below to see an animated GIF showing how even this photo proves the world is round.