Comments on: … in the sky, with diamonds http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:27:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Primeras imágenes del asteroide Steins visto de cerca : Blogografia /version beta/ http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/comment-page-1/#comment-116928 Primeras imágenes del asteroide Steins visto de cerca : Blogografia /version beta/ Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:24:58 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/#comment-116928 [...] grande como para haber causado la destrucción de asteroide, aunque Phil Plait especula en … in the sky, with diamonds con la posibilidad de que Šteins no sea sólido del todo sino que esté formado por una amalgama [...] [...] grande como para haber causado la destrucción de asteroide, aunque Phil Plait especula en … in the sky, with diamonds con la posibilidad de que Šteins no sea sólido del todo sino que esté formado por una amalgama [...]

]]> By: Selección Digital» microsiervos.com » Primeras imágenes del asteroide Steins visto de cerca http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/comment-page-1/#comment-116925 Selección Digital» microsiervos.com » Primeras imágenes del asteroide Steins visto de cerca Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:10:21 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/#comment-116925 [...] grande como para haber causado la destrucción de asteroide, aunque Phil Plait especula en … in the sky, with diamonds con la posibilidad de que Šteins no sea sólido del todo sino que esté formado por una amalgama [...] [...] grande como para haber causado la destrucción de asteroide, aunque Phil Plait especula en … in the sky, with diamonds con la posibilidad de que Šteins no sea sólido del todo sino que esté formado por una amalgama [...]

]]> By: Nentuaby http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/comment-page-1/#comment-116412 Nentuaby Mon, 08 Sep 2008 22:24:56 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/#comment-116412 Figurative speech is the soul of artistic English writing. Would people, however, for the love of GOD PLEASE STOP SAYING "literally [figurative descriptor]". That is <i>exactly wrong</i>. I thought you were talking, as you stated, about a whacking great carbon crystal. Figurative speech is the soul of artistic English writing. Would people, however, for the love of GOD PLEASE STOP SAYING “literally [figurative descriptor]“. That is exactly wrong.

I thought you were talking, as you stated, about a whacking great carbon crystal.

]]> By: StevoR - CORRECTION http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/comment-page-1/#comment-116173 StevoR - CORRECTION Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:20:34 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/#comment-116173 CORRECTION for typos , spacing etc .. Coz Icasn't @#@$$@#!!!%#@@!#@ ediut here. :-( ________________________ StevoR Says: September 8th, 2008 at 1:16 am Yep, <b>Shane,</b> Arthur C. Clarke’s novels <i> ‘Space Odyssey 2010′ & ‘2061′ </i> both featured the (hypothetical) Jovian diamond core (or fragments thereof landning onEuropa!) .. & the "Lucy in the Sky with Drugs ..er ..Diamonds" line. THX <b>Bad Astronomer</b> I’ve been dying (A METAPHOR - OK!) to hear how the Rosetta Steins encounter went & glad it wasn’t too close leaving Rosetta as a stain on Steins! Great to hear this news and that its gone so well - there’s been nothing in the South Aussie papers or TV news on this but I knew you wouldn’t let me down! :-D 8) CORRECTION for typos , spacing etc .. Coz Icasn’t @#@$$@#!!!%#@@!#@ ediut here. :-(

________________________

StevoR Says:
September 8th, 2008 at 1:16 am
Yep, Shane, Arthur C. Clarke’s novels ‘Space Odyssey 2010′ & ‘2061′ both featured the (hypothetical) Jovian diamond core (or fragments thereof landning onEuropa!) .. & the “Lucy in the Sky with Drugs ..er ..Diamonds” line.

THX Bad Astronomer I’ve been dying (A METAPHOR – OK!) to hear how the Rosetta Steins encounter went & glad it wasn’t too close leaving Rosetta as a stain on Steins!

Great to hear this news and that its gone so well – there’s been nothing in the South Aussie papers or TV news on this but I knew you wouldn’t let me down! :-D 8)

]]> By: StevoR http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/comment-page-1/#comment-116172 StevoR Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:16:41 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/#comment-116172 Yep, Shane, in Clarke's novels 'Space Odyssey 2010' & '2061' both featured the (hypothetical) Jovian diamond core (or fragments therof) .. & the Lucy in the Sky with Drugs ..er ..Diamonds line. THX <b>Bad Astronomer </b> I've ben dying (METAPHOR .OK!) to hear how theRosetta- Steins encounter went & glad itwasn't too close leaving Rosetta as astain onSteins! ;-) Great to hear this news and that its gone so well - there's been nothing in the South Aussie papers or TV news on this but I knew you wouldn't let me down! :-D 8) Yep, Shane, in Clarke’s novels ‘Space Odyssey 2010′ & ’2061′ both featured the (hypothetical) Jovian diamond core (or fragments therof) .. & the Lucy in the Sky with Drugs ..er ..Diamonds line.

THX Bad Astronomer I’ve ben dying (METAPHOR .OK!) to hear how theRosetta- Steins encounter went & glad itwasn’t too close leaving Rosetta as astain onSteins! ;-)

Great to hear this news and that its gone so well – there’s been nothing in the South Aussie papers or TV news on this but I knew you wouldn’t let me down! :-D 8)

]]> By: shane http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/comment-page-1/#comment-116138 shane Mon, 08 Sep 2008 03:51:36 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/#comment-116138 Didn't Arthur C. Clarke surmise that the centre of Jupiter is a large earth sized diamond? Didn’t Arthur C. Clarke surmise that the centre of Jupiter is a large earth sized diamond?

]]> By: Harold http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/comment-page-1/#comment-116082 Harold Sun, 07 Sep 2008 22:18:53 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/#comment-116082 That looks an awful lot like the emblem on Superman's chest. I'm a little fuzzy on this, but at the end of <i>Superman II</i> didn't Supes use a peel-off version of his emblem to re-trap the Kryptonian villains in the Phantom Zone? And then send them spinning off into space again? Where they would be safely trapped, as long as their new prison didn't get a corner whacked off by something? Which would be really, really unlikely in the short-term? Uh-oh... That looks an awful lot like the emblem on Superman’s chest.

I’m a little fuzzy on this, but at the end of Superman II didn’t Supes use a peel-off version of his emblem to re-trap the Kryptonian villains in the Phantom Zone? And then send them spinning off into space again? Where they would be safely trapped, as long as their new prison didn’t get a corner whacked off by something? Which would be really, really unlikely in the short-term?

Uh-oh…

]]> By: Melusine http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/comment-page-1/#comment-116061 Melusine Sun, 07 Sep 2008 19:12:36 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/#comment-116061 The crater chain is cool, especially imagining what seeing the impacts would have been like. Nathan Myers said: Finally, to be impressed that an asteroid has a cut-diamond shape is perilously close to being impressed with pareidolia. There's nothing wrong with pareidolia and pattern recognition. Astronomers name nebulas after familiar objects. It's only bad when you think it has meaning apart from coincidence and patterns that that result from similar physical events. The crater chain is cool, especially imagining what seeing the impacts would have been like.

Nathan Myers said: Finally, to be impressed that an asteroid has a cut-diamond shape is perilously close to being impressed with pareidolia.

There’s nothing wrong with pareidolia and pattern recognition. Astronomers name nebulas after familiar objects. It’s only bad when you think it has meaning apart from coincidence and patterns that that result from similar physical events.

]]> By: wfr http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/comment-page-1/#comment-116035 wfr Sun, 07 Sep 2008 13:53:58 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/#comment-116035 As an alternative to the bag-of-glass explanation for the large crater, isn't it possible that the large crater was formed on a large planetoid in the distant past, and then the planetoid was broken up by a later collision? As an alternative to the bag-of-glass explanation for the large crater, isn’t it possible that the large crater was formed on a large planetoid in the distant past, and then the planetoid was broken up by a later collision?

]]> By: Nathan Myers http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/comment-page-1/#comment-116017 Nathan Myers Sun, 07 Sep 2008 04:11:51 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/#comment-116017 Todd W: It is far from unexpected for Steins, one of those "many objects in the universe" to have a crater chain. There are lots of other things it might be, such as "appropriate". "Ironic" is a useful word that will remain useful only as long as it actually means something. Todd W: It is far from unexpected for Steins, one of those “many objects in the universe” to have a crater chain. There are lots of other things it might be, such as “appropriate”.
“Ironic” is a useful word that will remain useful only as long as it actually means something.

]]> By: Gary Ansorge http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/comment-page-1/#comment-116014 Gary Ansorge Sun, 07 Sep 2008 03:07:29 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/#comment-116014 Oh, would that be Lucy, in the sky, with diamonds? Sorry. I just couldn't resist,,, GAry 7 Oh, would that be Lucy, in the sky, with diamonds?

Sorry. I just couldn’t resist,,,

GAry 7

]]> By: Todd W. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/comment-page-1/#comment-116011 Todd W. Sun, 07 Sep 2008 02:09:34 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/#comment-116011 [pedantry]Irony: an outcome of events contrary to what was, or might have been, expected Many objects in the universe have crater chains possibly caused by objects like Steins. Steins also has, unexpectedly, a crater chain. [/pedantry] [pedantry]Irony: an outcome of events contrary to what was, or might have been, expected

Many objects in the universe have crater chains possibly caused by objects like Steins. Steins also has, unexpectedly, a crater chain. [/pedantry]

]]> By: Nathan Myers http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/comment-page-1/#comment-116008 Nathan Myers Sun, 07 Sep 2008 01:52:01 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/#comment-116008 I'd be satisfied if only ironies were called ironic. I’d be satisfied if only ironies were called ironic.

]]> By: Hmm http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/comment-page-1/#comment-116006 Hmm Sun, 07 Sep 2008 01:51:41 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/#comment-116006 Now I want to know what'd happen if this thing were solid diamond and it hit us. Because that'd either be really awesome or really sucky. Now I want to know what’d happen if this thing were solid diamond and it hit us.

Because that’d either be really awesome or really sucky.

]]> By: Phil Plait http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/comment-page-1/#comment-115998 Phil Plait Sat, 06 Sep 2008 23:25:31 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/#comment-115998 Andy: nope. And there's more to come. Andy: nope. And there’s more to come.

]]> By: Mark Hansen http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/comment-page-1/#comment-115993 Mark Hansen Sat, 06 Sep 2008 22:26:32 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/#comment-115993 BA, is it possible that Rosetta approached the asteroid upside-down? Because if you see the video that IVAN3MAN linked to, it looks a whole lot like Rosetta is flying by one of Gerry Anderson's creations. And before you comment Nathan, no, it's not exactly identical. You need to use your imagination and a little less pedantry. BA, is it possible that Rosetta approached the asteroid upside-down? Because if you see the video that IVAN3MAN linked to, it looks a whole lot like Rosetta is flying by one of Gerry Anderson’s creations.

And before you comment Nathan, no, it’s not exactly identical. You need to use your imagination and a little less pedantry.

]]> By: Davidlpf http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/comment-page-1/#comment-115991 Davidlpf Sat, 06 Sep 2008 22:17:58 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/#comment-115991 Oh another new rule nothing shall be mentioned as ironic.:-) Oh another new rule nothing shall be mentioned as ironic.:-)

]]> By: kuhnigget http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/comment-page-1/#comment-115990 kuhnigget Sat, 06 Sep 2008 22:10:59 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/#comment-115990 Attention all BA commenters: Per the new anti-metaphor guidelines, no language shall ever be introduced suggesting any object looks, smells, feels, tastes, or sounds like any other object in the universe, unless both objects absolutely look, smell, feel, taste and sound exactly alike. This does not apply to anything made of plasma, because...oh, just <i>because!</i> Attention all BA commenters:

Per the new anti-metaphor guidelines, no language shall ever be introduced suggesting any object looks, smells, feels, tastes, or sounds like any other object in the universe, unless both objects absolutely look, smell, feel, taste and sound exactly alike.

This does not apply to anything made of plasma, because…oh, just because!

]]> By: Davidlpf http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/comment-page-1/#comment-115988 Davidlpf Sat, 06 Sep 2008 22:00:03 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/#comment-115988 @ NATAN MYERS LIGHTEN UP @ NATAN MYERS
LIGHTEN UP

]]> By: Paul Duffield http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/comment-page-1/#comment-115986 Paul Duffield Sat, 06 Sep 2008 21:59:35 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/#comment-115986 *sigh* I knew someone would make the above anal comment as soon as I read the 'diamond in the rough' bit. It's just a play on words, that's a bit erroneous if taken literally, get over it. And it's not like he's seeing the diamond shape and saying 'all hail the diamond god'... the comment about the diamond shape isn't based on a random coniguration made significant by brain-fiddling... he clearly states it's not a usual shape for an asteriod, and therefore likely to be significant for non-iconographic reasons (but interesting none the less, just like a grape shaped like mary is interesting if you don't go religious all over it and know what you're seeing). *sigh* I knew someone would make the above anal comment as soon as I read the ‘diamond in the rough’ bit. It’s just a play on words, that’s a bit erroneous if taken literally, get over it.
And it’s not like he’s seeing the diamond shape and saying ‘all hail the diamond god’… the comment about the diamond shape isn’t based on a random coniguration made significant by brain-fiddling… he clearly states it’s not a usual shape for an asteriod, and therefore likely to be significant for non-iconographic reasons (but interesting none the less, just like a grape shaped like mary is interesting if you don’t go religious all over it and know what you’re seeing).

]]> By: Nathan Myers http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/comment-page-1/#comment-115978 Nathan Myers Sat, 06 Sep 2008 20:51:57 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/#comment-115978 Finally, to be impressed that an asteroid has a cut-diamond shape is perilously close to being impressed with pareidolia. Finally, to be impressed that an asteroid has a cut-diamond shape is perilously close to being impressed with pareidolia.

]]> By: Nathan Myers http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/comment-page-1/#comment-115977 Nathan Myers Sat, 06 Sep 2008 20:34:52 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/#comment-115977 Also, there really are (literally!) diamonds-in-the-rough in space, miles across, but that one is not "literally" a diamond, rough or otherwise. Furthermore, it's not even shaped like a rough diamond, which doesn't have any particular shape. Rough diamonds look like ordinary rocks. What you can say about this is it's shaped a lot like a <i>cut</i> diamond, which is more impressive than a "diamond in the rough". <i><i> Also, there really are (literally!) diamonds-in-the-rough in space, miles across, but that one is not “literally” a diamond, rough or otherwise. Furthermore, it’s not even shaped like a rough diamond, which doesn’t have any particular shape. Rough diamonds look like ordinary rocks.

What you can say about this is it’s shaped a lot like a cut diamond, which is more impressive than a “diamond in the rough”.

]]> By: spyderkl http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/comment-page-1/#comment-115974 spyderkl Sat, 06 Sep 2008 20:25:55 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/#comment-115974 Wow! So, so cool. Can't wait to show my kid - I think we have our Nightmare Before Xmas glasses here somewhere... Wow! So, so cool. Can’t wait to show my kid – I think we have our Nightmare Before Xmas glasses here somewhere…

]]> By: amphiox http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/comment-page-1/#comment-115972 amphiox Sat, 06 Sep 2008 20:10:09 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/#comment-115972 Egads. This asteroid is so complex, and interesting (far more so than a certain human being of the same name, for instance), it must have been designed. Egads. This asteroid is so complex, and interesting (far more so than a certain human being of the same name, for instance), it must have been designed.

]]> By: En plötslig diamant i mörkret http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/comment-page-1/#comment-115971 En plötslig diamant i mörkret Sat, 06 Sep 2008 20:04:42 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/06/in-the-sky-with-diamonds/#comment-115971 [...] Mötet skedde i asteroidbältet bortom Mars - därav tidskillnaden. Det tog nämligen 20 minuter för signalerna att i ljusets hastighet nå fram till jorden. Bilderna från ESA visar förbiflygningen och just nu pågår utvärderingen av mötet. Bad Astronomy har en bra genomgång här. [...] [...] Mötet skedde i asteroidbältet bortom Mars – därav tidskillnaden. Det tog nämligen 20 minuter för signalerna att i ljusets hastighet nå fram till jorden. Bilderna från ESA visar förbiflygningen och just nu pågår utvärderingen av mötet. Bad Astronomy har en bra genomgång här. [...]

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