› added 4 years ago

166

TIL A 3″ telescope has a maximum theoretical magnification of 150x. A 6″ telescope can magnify up to 300x, and an 8″ telescope up to 400x. But the Earth’s atmosphere is a limiting factor

Read more starizona.com

via reddit.com

7odb TIL the reason cats and dogs like to lie in the sun is so the oily cholesterol on their skin is converted to vitamin D3. Their thick fur means they lick (while grooming) the oil off it rather than it being absorbed though the skin like in humans.
pl8G TIL that most New York City apartment buildings are six stories tall because the water reservoirs for the city provide just enough pressure to get water six stories up - above that you need a water tank on top of the building.
wRN7 TIL the world’s longest place name is Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu, “The summit where Tamatea, the man with the big knees, the slider, climber of mountains, the land-swallower who travelled about, played his nose flute to his loved one”.
l7X0N TIL, Australian zookeeper, conservationist, and tv programmer Steve Irwin was filming a documentary in the Great Barrier Reef when he was stung by a stingray. 10 stingrays were found with their tails cut off. It is believe that they were taken out by his fans as an act of revenge.
R7QQa TIL capital punishment was legal in the Vatican from its formation in 1929 to 1969, but it was never carried because it only applied for attempts to assassinate the Pope and there were none in this period.