John the OFM | 12 Mar 2014 8:45 a.m. PST |
link I ave no dog in this fight. On the one hand, I think that there should be SOMEBODY handing out "official" names. But on the other hand, I get a kick out of some upstart capitalists sticking it to The Man. the IAU's position reminds me of the Pope carving up the New World between Spain and Portugal, which was ignored by the French, English and Dutch. It also reminds me of the so-called "amateur" athlete. Block out tradesmen and peasants, and leave sport to Gentlemen. What settled it for me was the bit about the settlers will name it what they want to anyway. I do hope that they retain "Sarah's Large Hole in the Ground". |
Simcoe 2000 | 12 Mar 2014 8:58 a.m. PST |
As long as one is named for Helium, I will pt up with al the rest! Dotar Sojat! |
OSchmidt | 12 Mar 2014 9:01 a.m. PST |
I'm with the International Astronomical Union. I think however that the scam of buying unofficial names be allowed only under the exclusive Auspices of the International Astronomicla Union, and everyone else forbidden to do it. This way, while the AAU can officiall name the terrain features for science, they can fleece the idiots who are willing to pay for it, and provide a list of whatever names people want and possibly gain a fair amount of change to advance real science. Hell, let a person have multiple names or allow anyone to name anything. Thus if someone wants to call Olympus Mons "The wart on my mother-in Law's nose" or the size of Joe-Yabatz's hemmerhoids, carge him $100 USD and bash on. I am a firm believer that a fool and his money should be soon--- and forcibly-- parted. |
John the OFM | 12 Mar 2014 9:06 a.m. PST |
they can fleece the idiots who are willing to pay for it, Hip hip! If enough money crosses their palms, maybe Disney can get Pluto back to being a planet! I think the IAU is just ed that they dd not think of this first, although there was that one star naming scam a few years ago. Has anyone set one up for exo-planets yet? "We already know what you are, my dear. I am just haggling over the price."
everyone else forbidden to do it. How, exactly? Who can enforce this? We have the Weather Channel naming winter storms, and all anyone else does is ridicule them. The IAU would get more traction here if they just laughed it off instead of having a tantrum about it. |
The Beast Rampant | 12 Mar 2014 9:08 a.m. PST |
I think they should limit the candidate pool to such individuals who have posted in excess of 1,000 YouTube comments and/or Urban Dictionary definitions. Let's let the internet's democratic process run its truest course. ---Mission control, the Mars lander has touched down 300 meters SW of the 'Yo Mamma %$#$* My %$#@*$# $*%$#^, Beyotch' Crater. Over" ---(sigh), "Copy that." |
John the OFM | 12 Mar 2014 9:12 a.m. PST |
Perhaps they should borrow Dear Editor's Bleep-o-Matic. |
rmcaras | 12 Mar 2014 9:14 a.m. PST |
isn't that the same as "name a star" for $50 USD
you get an official looking certificate that no one else will ever recognize or know about. there is a mark born every minute. |
Frederick | 12 Mar 2014 9:39 a.m. PST |
It's all fun and games until a death-ray armed tripod rears up over the horizon – - - |
Space Monkey | 12 Mar 2014 9:42 a.m. PST |
I don't think you really get to name place until you get there and plant a flag on it. But I disagree with this bit: "science exists for the benefit of the world, not for the scientists." Since scientists are doing the work to figure stuff out I think science exists for the benefit of the curiosity of the scientists
and the folks who fund them hoping to make some cash. It's not like the average Wal Mart shopper gives a hoot until whatever discovery ends up in his shopping cart. |
WarWizard | 12 Mar 2014 10:26 a.m. PST |
I think in the future naming planets will be reserved for those corporations with the biggest bucks. Kind of like when they named the new football stadium in Philadelphia, Lincoln Financial Field. |
Rrobbyrobot | 12 Mar 2014 10:39 a.m. PST |
Imagine what the Martians have been naming parts of our happy little home. I guess turn about is fair play. |
Caesar | 12 Mar 2014 11:00 a.m. PST |
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darthfozzywig | 12 Mar 2014 12:59 p.m. PST |
I don't recall authorizing the IAU to name much of anything, so I don't see where they can tell me what I can/cannot call something. |
Sargonarhes | 12 Mar 2014 2:27 p.m. PST |
Anything to jerk the IAU around is a good thing in my opinion. |
basileus66 | 12 Mar 2014 3:08 p.m. PST |
"As long as one is named for Helium, I will pt up with al the rest! Dotar Sojat!" I second the motion! |
Henry Martini | 12 Mar 2014 8:14 p.m. PST |
A certain confectionary manufacturer must be having a huge chuckle: its already self-branded the whole planet without having to pay a cent. |
Henry Martini | 12 Mar 2014 8:14 p.m. PST |
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uruk hai | 12 Mar 2014 9:42 p.m. PST |
Why not ask the Martians what they call the craters. |
John D Salt | 13 Mar 2014 2:31 p.m. PST |
uruk hai wrote:
Why not ask the Martians what they call the craters.
Because we can't pronounce names like Vrrkkkjmmnt Sdkklfm and Kwwzsdfk Blrrdsdr H'Grttygg. Unless we're Welsh and have very heavy nasal catarrh. Whatever science may be for, I am fairly sure that it is not for the personal profit of money-grubbing lawyers flogging dodgy name certificates. All the best, John. |
CeruLucifus | 15 Mar 2014 5:49 a.m. PST |
Cost should be exponential of the number of syllables, with a geographic modifier and necessary articles not counting. Half price for classical references. More than 4 syllables has to be considered with its acronym by a panel of navigators and cartographers for pronounceability. No profanity. No duplicates in the same navigational zone. Helium, $1,000. USD Mons Hephaestus, $500. USD Sarah's Little Hole In The Ground, or SLHG, possibly rejected by the panel, but if approved, $1,000,000. USD Sarah Crater, though, is only $100. USD |