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Fractal of the Day
by Jim Muth
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Fractal visionaries and enthusiasts: The more I watch those popularized 'science' programs on the leading 'science' channels, the more misinformation I notice in the shows, and the more I wonder who, if anyone, is checking the accuracy of the things presented as demonstrated fact. As a single example, on a recent show where the topic was conditions on other worlds, the narrator was describing the conditions we would find if we were to land on the surface of Titan, the giant moon of Saturn. Titan is thought to have weather much like earth's, with a surface covered with seas of cold liquid methane, which falls as showers from rain clouds as water does on earth. The narrator said that there is enough liquid fuel on Titan to power the earth for millions of years. This much seemed true enough, but then he said that if anyone were to strike a match on Titan, the entire moon would instantly burst into flame and burn into a barren airless world like our own moon Luna. When I heard this, my first thought was how fortunate it is that no lightning exists on Titan, and then I thought about how unlikely a total lack of lightning would be in an active planetary atmosphere with precipitation like earth's. But then I remembered that fuel such as methane burns by combining chemically with oxygen, which on Titan must be as hard to come by as methane is on earth. On Titan oxygen would be the fuel! A resident on Titan would look enviously to earth and marvel at how energy-rich we are. On Titan, if it were possible to strike a match in the cold methane atmosphere, the match would sputter and instantly be snuffed out. It would not cause the entire planet to explode. Let's get our science straight, guys. In addition to wondering about inaccurate statements, I also wonder why the 'science' oriented channels load their schedules with so many programs about possible catastrophes, such as 'the asteroid strikes earth, civilization collapses and mankind is exterminated'. Maybe when people worry they buy more of the sponsors' products, but that's another story. Today's comparatively harmless fractal is unlikely to cause such worry. I found it lurking in the parent fractal that results when the formula Z^(1.237)+C is calculated 11 levels up the abstract logarithmic hyper-ladder when no function is used. This parent fractal resembles some kind of monster stretching out its filamentary arms to engulf the unwary fractalist. Today's image is located in the monster's right filament-arm. I named the image "Monster at Large" after this monster of my fancy. I rated it at a 5 because I don't particularly enjoy monsters, especially of the fractal kind. But the brief calculation time of 1-1/2 minutes is nothing to be afraid of. And if even this is too slow, the finished image may be accessed instantly on the FOTD web site at: Tuesday morning was fair enough here at Fractal Central, but clouds arrived during the afternoon, disappointing the fractal cats. The temperature of 81F 27C felt quite muggy due to the high humidity. My day was busy but thoughtful. All I needed was a subject fit to ponder. The next in the FOTD series is due to be posted in 24 hours, and the odds that this will actually happen are favorable. Until next FOTD, take care, and settle your thoughts. Jim Muth jamth@mindspring.com jimmuth@aol.com |
START PARAMETER FILE=======================================
Monster_at_Large { ; time=0:01:34.64-SF5 on P4-2000
reset=2004 type=formula formulafile=allinone.frm
formulaname=MandelbrotBC3 function=ident logmap=165
center-mag=+0.0153683212424909/-1.580096717232355/\
1.376627e+011/1/-37.5/0 maxiter=1750 periodicity=10
params=1.237/0/11/0 float=y passes=1 inside=0
colors=000cLmhY5wh0ca2UX3QS6NP9JKCGHF8DH6DF3CE5CDD\
BCKBARAKUAKWAKYAK`AKzA0mAUmm0mBUzP0mCUmCUzD0`DK_EK\
ZEKYFKXFKWGKVGKVGKPFUKFUFFUAFU5FW0FY3GW5HV8ITAJSDK\
QFLPIMNKNMNOKPPJSQHUQGZNJcLMhJOdLR`NTYPVURYRT_NUaK\
WcGYfD_h9aj6bl5ce4c_3cU9eQEfNKgKPiHVjD_kAem7jn4oo1\
lhAjbJhXReQ_cKhaEpdGqgHriIslJtnKuqLvsMwoPtlRqiTofV\
lcXi`ZgY`dUbaRd_OfXZpXXmVWjTVgRUdPTaORZMQWKPTIOQGN\
NFUTG_YGecHkhHohGrgGugFxgFviEukDslCrnCpoBoqAmr9lt9\
kv8iw7hy6fz6ez5cz4bz3az3bz2cw2cr2dn2ei2ee2f`1gX1gS\
1hO1iJ1iF1hE0gD0fD0eC0eC0dB0cB0bA0bA0cB1dB1dB2eB2e\
C3fC3fC4gC4gC4YNOOXfRRjTXhVagWfeYld_qb`vaXn`Uf`Q_`\
NS`KL`ONaRPaURaXSb_UbbWbeXchZck`cnadqcdtedwfdnieek\
eXmeOpfFrf6tfArhEpiInjLrpNvuPyzRvvTtrVqnXokZlg`jcb\
g_deXfcTh`PjZLlWInUEpRArP6tN3pM7mLBjKEfKIcJM`IPYHT\
UHXRG_OFcLFfPGdTHcXIb`JadK`hL_lMZjPWXOGWLDWJ9WG6WE\
3UF8TFCRFGQFKOFONFSTKMYPG }
frm:MandelbrotBC3 { ; by several Fractint users
e=p1, a=imag(p2)+100
p=real(p2)+PI
q=2*PI*fn1(p/(2*PI))
r=real(p2)+PI-q
Z=C=Pixel:
Z=log(Z)
IF(imag(Z) > r)
Z=Z+flip(2*PI)
ENDIF
Z=exp(e*(Z+flip(q)))+C
|Z| < a }
END PARAMETER FILE=========================================
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times.
