explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

1740: Rosetta

2016-10-01T02:47:00Z

162.158.86.119: /* Explanation */ kph → km/h

{{comic
| number = 1740
| date = September 30, 2016
| title = Rosetta
| image = rosetta.png
| titletext = I WONDERED why he kept asking whether we thought the impact speed was too low.
}}

==Explanation==
On the day this comic was posted (September 30th 2016), the ''{{w|Rosetta (spacecraft)|Rosetta}}'' mission ended with the final descent of ''Rosetta'' onto the comet {{w|67P}}. Landing Rosetta on the comet gave the scientists a chance to collect extra data from very close to the comet, using the spacecraft's powerful sensors. [[Cueball]] however assumed that the landing was a "{{w|Asteroid_impact_avoidance#Kinetic_impact|kinetic impact}}" mission to deflect a comet that was a collision course with Earth. A similar scenario (using a nuclear weapon implanted inside of the asteroid) was depicted in the 1998 film ''{{w|Armageddon (1998 film)|Armageddon}}'', of which Cueball is apparently a fan.

In reality, at the time ''Rosetta'' landed, 67P was already leaving the inner solar system and was [http://sci.esa.int/where_is_rosetta/ a long way past Earth]. It will return to the inner solar system in around 5 years time, but its orbit is not expected to pose any threat to Earth any time soon. Plus, as the alt text hints, Rosetta's speed was only [https://astronomynow.com/2016/09/30/rosettas-final-hours/ 90 cm per second] relative to the surface at the moment of impact (or about 2 mph/3.25 km/h; the speed of a slow walk), while the comet was travelling at 14.39 km/s. Given that Rosetta only weighs a couple of tons (or [[1461: Payloads|six horses]]), and 67P weighs nearly 10 billion tons (or [[1461: Payloads| 22,200,624,370 horses]]), Rosetta's landing will have no actual measurable effect on the comet's momentum.

''Rosetta'' (and its lander, ''Philae'') were previously the subject of the comics [[1402: Harpoons]] and [[1446: Landing]], and were mentioned in [[1461: Payloads]], [[1547: Solar System Questions]] and possibly [[1621: Fixion]].

==Transcript==
:[A control room: Megan and Hairy are at computers, Ponytail is directing, and Cueball is watching]
:Megan: Signal lost.
:Megan: ''Rosetta'' has impacted the comet.
:Ponytail: Good work everyone.
:Hairy: Woooo!

:[Zoom on Ponytail and Cueball]
:Cueball: So.
:Cueball: You think we deflected it?

:[Ponytail, Cueball and Hairy are now visible. Hairy looks away from his computer in surprise]
:Ponytail: Huh?
:Cueball: Did we hit the comet hard enough to deflect it away from Earth?

:[Back to Ponytail and Cueball]
:Ponytail: That... Is that what you thought we were doing?
:Cueball: I just assumed...

:[Megan enters. Cueball has his arms up in celebration]
:Megan: He's a huge ''Armageddon'' fan. Let him have this.
:Ponytail: Okay, fine.
:Ponytail: Yes! We did it! The Earth is saved!
:Cueball: Wooo!

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Space probes]]

Talk:1733: Solar Spectrum

2016-09-15T11:38:40Z

162.158.86.119:

Sun in sunglasses is also in whatif "Into the sun" and I'm 99% sure this is not the only xkcd appearance of that... --[[Special:Contributions/162.158.86.119|162.158.86.119]] 11:38, 15 September 2016 (UTC)

Talk:1725: Linear Regression

2016-08-30T09:32:28Z

162.158.86.119:

It also seems likely that the teapot refers to the Utah Teapot (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah_teapot). It was one of the first complex 3D objects defined for CGI rendering, and has seen countless uses since. Notably in the Pipes screensaver, and early SIGGRAPH papers where it was rendered along side the 5 platonic solids as if it belonged with them.
[[User:Dkfenger|Dkfenger]] ([[User talk:Dkfenger|talk]]) 17:10, 26 August 2016 (UTC)
: I'm not sure I follow. How do you reach that conclusion? Given that the concept of constellations (and thus stars) is clearly shown in the comic, it seems much more likely to me that he was referring to Russell's Teapot and not to a computer rendering (if there was any reference at all). The fact that that shape could abstractly resemble a teapot may be all that there is to it. :) [[User:KieferSkunk|KieferSkunk]] ([[User talk:KieferSkunk|talk]]) 18:06, 26 August 2016 (UTC)

I think that the teapot is a reference to the constellation Sagittarius. This seems most likely to me as the reference is to a constellation that looks like a teapot despite ostensibly being something else. Sagittarius is a constellation that is supposed to be an archer, but many people see it as a teapot instead. (http://www.space.com/30274-constellation-sagittarius-archer-dipper-teapot.html) [[User:Harperska|Harperska]] ([[User talk:Harperska|talk]]) 19:27, 26 August 2016 (UTC)

I think it looks like a alcohol drink with the little umbrella sticking out. [[User:Mikemk|Mikemk]] ([[User talk:Mikemk|talk]]) 06:25, 27 August 2016 (UTC)

Based on what is an R^2 value of 0.06 significant??? I'm removing that. [[User:Djbrasier|Djbrasier]] ([[User talk:Djbrasier|talk]]) 20:59, 26 August 2016 (UTC)
: Oops, misread it! I read "insignificant" as "significant". [[User:Djbrasier|Djbrasier]] ([[User talk:Djbrasier|talk]]) 21:00, 26 August 2016 (UTC)

The teapot mention may just be a joke, not a reference. {{unsigned ip|141.101.98.114}}

did someone check if it really was a Rsquared of 0,06?[[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.67|141.101.104.67]] 20:56, 27 August 2016 (UTC)

Does anybody know of any real-world examples of a similarly low R^2 given in genuine research? It would be worth mentioning their existence if we can find one. [[User:Cosmogoblin|Cosmogoblin]] ([[User talk:Cosmogoblin|talk]]) 18:03, 28 August 2016 (UTC)
: In published research? I don't recall any. In submissions for review? At least twice. And of course one case where this comic could and should be used as an educational drawing - student reports, master's theses, etc. I've seen "conclusions" drawn from weaker data in those, far too many times for my mental health...--[[Special:Contributions/162.158.86.119|162.158.86.119]] 09:32, 30 August 2016 (UTC)

Rex is also Latin for king, which may be related in the context of constellations. {{unsigned ip|172.68.11.81}}

Talk:358: Loud Party

2016-08-29T09:10:24Z

162.158.86.119:

Its easy to get down from a tree like that.. Pass your laptop to your partner, you climb down, then pass the laptops to the person on the ground, then SHE comes down.

[[Special:Contributions/98.144.105.195|98.144.105.195]] 18:36, 3 June 2013 (UTC)

:No, you can't leave both laptops with one person, because then the fox will eat both of them. {{unsigned ip|118.209.55.156}}
::Unless you are Russian, meaning there is a rather insignificant chance that the fox MAY be tame. {{unsigned ip|208.54.86.193}}[[Special:Contributions/208.54.86.193|208.54.86.193]] 02:17, 20 February 2014 (UTC)
:Getting down from any tree is very, very easy. Physics wil help you. Unless you mean getting down unharmed?--[[Special:Contributions/162.158.86.119|162.158.86.119]] 09:10, 29 August 2016 (UTC)

I don't really understand this comic, even after the explanation. What are they doing on their laptops? And why do they need to go to a beautiful and isolated setting together to do it? Also, which is more typical behavior, teen or otherwise; to be enjoying a wild party, or sitting quietly with a laptop? Hint: guess which one I'm doing now? [[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.223|108.162.219.223]] 20:41, 3 January 2014 (UTC)

btw love the 'fox' comment...the most insightful thing on this page! {{unsigned ip|108.162.219.223}}

January '14, in January '04, the laptop usage was still a bit nerdy. And in 2015... why aren't those dorks using an "iPad"[tablet] or just their phones up in that tree?[[Special:Contributions/108.162.245.116|108.162.245.116]] 14:53, 6 October 2015 (UTC)

Ok, I don't get the impression that the comic is implying that these two are special or anything, they'd just rather be elsewhere, doing something else. Something which I can appreciate. I mean, maybe they're introverted a bit, but whatever. -Pennpenn [[Special:Contributions/108.162.250.162|108.162.250.162]] 06:07, 14 October 2015 (UTC)

I hate loud parties more because of the "loud" part than the "party" part. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.43|108.162.221.43]] 02:24, 17 December 2015 (UTC)

Talk:1721: Business Idea

2016-08-17T10:07:03Z

162.158.86.119:

I'm pretty sure there's been a naming overlap or something because https://xkcd.com/827/ and http://xkcd.com/1721/ are showing the same image
[[Special:Contributions/108.162.250.157|108.162.250.157]] 04:13, 17 August 2016 (UTC)

== Randall done goofed ==

He accidentally named TWO comics "Business Idea". This one and comic 827 (https://xkcd.com/827/). Because his comics are stored by name, not id, he has two "business_idea.png"s. The newer replaced the older one, but explain-xkcd has the original, probably due to the way either one is stored.
:I'm honestly surprised Randall would make a mistake like this. Like shouldn't he have a list and a script that automatically checks wether a title was already used? --[[Special:Contributions/162.158.133.66|162.158.133.66]] 09:25, 17 August 2016 (UTC)
::Or simply append/prepend the comic number to the image name, that way you can't have duplicates.

What should we do? Contact Randall? {{unsigned ip|108.162.219.10}}
:Check the fora. Let him know he broke 827(http://i.imgur.com/0LTTpmJ.png) if he doesn't know already. I'm too lazy. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.245.110|108.162.245.110]] 04:35, 17 August 2016 (UTC)
:Store it on the wiki as a jpeg and differentiate that way. --[[Special:Contributions/173.245.48.89|173.245.48.89]] 04:59, 17 August 2016 (UTC)

In Germany and many other countries, the gas pumps actually have a separate hose per fuel type, so many fans of xkcd might not be able to understand this comic. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.83.162|162.158.83.162]] 05:18, 17 August 2016 (UTC)
: Yes, because many of us use Diesel, and you should not mix diesel and petrol. But it's no problem to mix small quantities of regular into premium or vice versa. --[[Special:Contributions/162.158.86.161|162.158.86.161]] 09:06, 17 August 2016 (UTC)
:: Not just diesel and petrol - every kind of fuel sold (usually 4 per pump - petrol/diesel x premium/regular, sometimes fast diesel pump for trucks instead of diesel premium) has a separate hose and pistol in Poland. You choose the fuel by choosing the pistol. I'm guessing it's the same in a large part of Europe at least. It didn't even occur to me that it could be done differently. I honestly thought it was part of the joke - that Cueball doesn't even know that. --[[Special:Contributions/162.158.86.119|162.158.86.119]] 10:07, 17 August 2016 (UTC)

Is this Cueball, or Beret Guy with his hat off? [[User:Mikemk|Mikemk]] ([[User talk:Mikemk|talk]]) 08:22, 17 August 2016 (UTC)
: Unlikely. Wasn't Beret Guy's hat stapled? --[[Special:Contributions/162.158.86.119|162.158.86.119]] 10:07, 17 August 2016 (UTC)

Talk:1715: Household Tips

2016-08-04T12:12:28Z

162.158.86.119:

I think this references infomercials with a tendency to show people completely inept at doing extremely simple and common things, then offers a slightly more convenient product as if it were the solution to the ineptitude.The problem-solution pattern matches the tone of those. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.217.125|108.162.217.125]] 14:41, 3 August 2016 (UTC)

It is possible there is a bit of meta humor going on in regards to this comic (and its predecessor). As the comic is literally explaining in xkcd, it may be a subtle jab at explainxkcd.com, putting those on explainxkcd.com in the amusing and awkward situation of trying to explain in detail about a detailed explanation of something that doesn't needs explaining. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.246.112|108.162.246.112]] 23:37, 3 August 2016 (UTC)

Wait, there's more! Even the windows that do not slide up are not always a lost cause - the hook normally used for hanging the hammer you use to let the fresh air in actually turns, allowing the window to be opened or tilted! (Seriously, I think I've never even seen a sliding window in real life - I guess it's only popular in a few countries, including US) --[[Special:Contributions/162.158.86.119|162.158.86.119]] 12:12, 4 August 2016 (UTC)