by Star*Hopper » Sun Aug 30, 2009 8:03 am
OK, I'll argue with ya. I don't even think it's a 'nice picture'. But I couldn't agree more with your message.
I'm afraid I'm in that "outside our atmosphere" boat.
I used to give lectures at our local planetarium before retiring, & in fact, used that classic definition during my introduction, in explaining the difference in 'astronomy' and 'astrology'. (And believe me, to too much of the lay population, it needs defining!) For those wondering about the other side of the equation, I basically dismissed the latter as "some kind of pseudo-science followed by fortunetellers & others without a firm grasp on reality, & usually as a means of profit."
Not saying the pictures aren't remarkable, and worthy of publication - but why not where the 'APOD' means 'Atmospherics Picture Of the Day'? But to avoid conflict & confusion, perhaps make it 'SPOD'....for 'Sky...' It could even be ran by the same staff - they've already got the facilities.
Not that it matters much - or enough - to anyone of importance, but I suffer an inner groan each time I start my every online day by opening APOD, like a child opening a Christmas or birthday present, eagerly anticipating what other-worldly delight each offering might present. And when I get the SPOD, I almost feel like we all did when it turned out to be just underwear or socks.
I've harbored a growing suspicion 'someone up there' or TPTB* have been feeling strapped for new material, given the number of times we've seen the same subject matter for an image, and an identical 'Explanation' caption, save a different word or two. (Look it up - use 'Search' for past APODs for a few, eg, NGC objects). Or perhaps that's just a sign of my advancing years? Not that I've 'seen it all' by any means, but APOD sometimes sure makes me feel that way!
*'The Powers That Be'
All this repetition, considering all the things 'out there' - kinda funny, innit? - how they turn to 'air pix' for filler material?
EG today's image of bacteria in a Petri dish. Even the implication these might be cellular astronauts in some Weird Science Future didn't lessen the thoughts of something nasty, in my planetary nebula-wanting mind. Please. I couldn't restrain a snarky response (given elsewhere here) : "But can you make it fetch?"
But, fine - ok, & all that. Publish 'em if you must. Just.....not here?
Just sayin'....
~*
[quote="apodman"]http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap090824.html
Nice picture, but ...
...[/quote]
OK, I'll argue with ya. I don't even think it's a 'nice picture'. But I couldn't agree more with your message.
I'm afraid I'm in that "outside our atmosphere" boat.
I used to give lectures at our local planetarium before retiring, & in fact, used that classic definition during my introduction, in explaining the difference in 'astronomy' and 'astrology'. (And believe me, to too much of the lay population, it needs defining!) For those wondering about the other side of the equation, I basically dismissed the latter as "some kind of pseudo-science followed by fortunetellers & others without a firm grasp on reality, & usually as a means of profit."
Not saying the pictures aren't remarkable, and worthy of publication - but why not where the 'APOD' means 'Atmospherics Picture Of the Day'? But to avoid conflict & confusion, perhaps make it 'SPOD'....for 'Sky...' It could even be ran by the same staff - they've already got the facilities.
Not that it matters much - or enough - to anyone of importance, but I suffer an inner groan each time I start my every online day by opening APOD, like a child opening a Christmas or birthday present, eagerly anticipating what other-worldly delight each offering might present. And when I get the SPOD, I almost feel like we all did when it turned out to be just underwear or socks.
I've harbored a growing suspicion 'someone up there' or TPTB* have been feeling strapped for new material, given the number of times we've seen the same subject matter for an image, and an identical 'Explanation' caption, save a different word or two. (Look it up - use 'Search' for past APODs for a few, eg, NGC objects). Or perhaps that's just a sign of my advancing years? Not that I've 'seen it all' by any means, but APOD sometimes sure makes me feel that way! :wink:
[i]*'The Powers That Be'[/i]
All this repetition, considering all the things 'out there' - kinda funny, innit? - how they turn to 'air pix' for filler material? [i]EG[/i] today's image of bacteria in a Petri dish. Even the implication these might be cellular astronauts in some Weird Science Future didn't lessen the thoughts of something nasty, in my planetary nebula-wanting mind. Please. I couldn't restrain a snarky response (given elsewhere here) : "But can you make it fetch?"
But, fine - ok, & all that. Publish 'em if you must. Just.....not here?
Just sayin'....
~*