this post was submitted on 10 Mar 2024
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One of the comments reads : Actually, we will probably never figure out, was it man or woman. but I thought this comment of the professor was an interesting eye opener. https://mastodonapp.uk/@MarkHoltom/112070436760917344

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[–] [email protected] 51 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (9 children)

"man" as in human kind.

I agree the linguistics here are unfortunate, but here we are, and that word, in that context, is normally gender neutral.

~~Also, 28 day calendar probably means it's the moon.~~

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago (2 children)

I'm not seeing a comment pointing out why 28 days isn't a moon thing, so I'll take a shot. If you watch new moon to new moon or full moon to full moon, it's a 29.5 day cycle. It's true, the moon's orbit is only 28 days. However, that's 360° of travel. We don't track the moon against the stars for its cycle though, it's tracked against the sun. A full moon sits opposite the sun, a new moon in line with the sun, etc. So, in that 28 day orbital period, the earth has also orbited about 1/13 of an orbit around the sun, changing the position of the sun against the stars . That means the moon has to travel an extra 28° of orbit to reach the new moon position again - about an extra day an a half.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I’m not seeing a comment pointing out why 28 days isn’t a moon thing,

Hm, that's odd! it's right there

https://discuss.tchncs.de/comment/8329564

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

Odd indeed since the link works fine in my mobile app (connect) but doesn't show on the native comment thread. I kinds figured it was something like that with a different source instance. At least I can feel good knowing I explained where 28 does occur

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