QQC 4

Question: Why aren't these still alive? Why do Megalonyx look so awesome? Sloths can grow that big?

Comment: The reason I choose this quote is because the description of the Megalonyx is so specific and I imagined a monster sloth with saber toothed teeth with an aggressive nature. Then I googled an image of the Megalonyx and it was just as I expected the image was a giant sloth about the size of a modern day rhino. And I thought it was interesting that President Thomas Jefferson proposed the name of the Megalonyx when he did a presentation on the fossils found of the giant sloth

QQC 3

Questions: How exactly did they get accurate measurements for the distance of the sun? What materials did they use? Is this a widely accepted measurement?

Comment: I didn't realize that they calculated this measurement around the 1700's. Due to the lack of technology I find this extremely interesting that they were able to use some kind of telescope to calculate the distance to the sun. Without modern technology like spaceships and shuttles, I wouldn't except an accurate distance mainly because when I look at the sun when I'm on the ground I'd either get blinded by the sun or by overwhelmed by the fact that I would have to measure the distance from your position. It's amazing. This makes me want to take up astrophysics mainly because of the vast area of topics you get to cover. Like the stars, and how planets came to be and if were the only living planet in this universe, it's just fascinating.