Editing 2274: Stargazing 3
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | + | {{incomplete|Created by a TERRIFIED LAMP. The explanation, for the most part, doesn't exist. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} | |
− | + | This is the third in the Stargazing series. The first [[1644: Stargazing]] appeared four years earlier and the second [[2017: Stargazing 2]] one and a half years earlier. | |
− | {{w|Vega}} is a star in the constellation of {{w|Lyra}}. It does indeed have {{w|Magnitude (astronomy)|magnitude}} 0.03 and is the brightest star mentioned in this comic. | + | {{w|Vega}} is a star in the constellation of {{w|Lyra}}. It does indeed have {{w|Magnitude (astronomy)|magnitude}} 0.03 and is the brightest star mentioned in this comic. The phrase <q>It's the brightest star I'm currently talking about</q> is an example of the technically correct but not at all useful information that is typical of the Stargazing series. Vega is only the {{w|List of brightest stars|5th brightest star}} (outside of the Sun), as {{w|Sirius}} is the brightest visible star. |
− | {{w|Polaris}} is indeed the star over the North Pole, and is commonly called the North Star or the Pole Star. It is the brightest star in the constellation Ursa Minor, but there are about fifty other stars that are as bright as it is (magnitude 2), so it's not really remarkable apart from being the pole star, as | + | {{w|Polaris}} is indeed the star over the North Pole, and is commonly called the North Star or the Pole Star. It is the brightest star in the constellation Ursa Minor, but there are about fifty other stars that are as bright as it is (magnitude 2), so it's not really remarkable apart from being the pole star, as the host says. Despite the fact that being the pole star is "all it has going for it," it is nevertheless very important because it is used for navigation, as it appears fixed in the night sky. It hasn't always been and won't always be the pole star, however, as Earth's axis precesses in a 26,000 year cycle. |
− | {{w|Comets}} are | + | {{w|Comets}} are small rock and ice particles. Many comets have usually highly elliptical orbits around the sun and so they are seen "every few decades". Yelling at comets has proved to be an ineffective way to make them go away.{{Citation needed}} It's not clear why the host doesn't like comets, but there are astronomers who are [https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/starlink-satellites-astronomy/ upset about satellite megaconstellations] such as {{w|SpaceX Starlink|SpaceX's Starlink}}. In that case, astronomers are not yelling at the satellites, but at the companies that launch them. |
{{w|Light pollution}} is indeed a problem with stargazing. Light pollution is the presence of artificial light in the night sky, which makes it very difficult to see stars. Stargazing in remote locations is remarkably different than in populated cities. Light pollution was previously discussed in [[2121: Light Pollution]]. Light pollution does not actually make the "sky go away", but it does affect how humans can see stars or other astronomical features in the sky. | {{w|Light pollution}} is indeed a problem with stargazing. Light pollution is the presence of artificial light in the night sky, which makes it very difficult to see stars. Stargazing in remote locations is remarkably different than in populated cities. Light pollution was previously discussed in [[2121: Light Pollution]]. Light pollution does not actually make the "sky go away", but it does affect how humans can see stars or other astronomical features in the sky. | ||
− | + | The host advocates an active approach to resolving light pollution -- rather than lobbying for reductions in artificial lighting, as the {{w|dark-sky movement}} does, she intends to lead her audience in destroying artificial lights. Incandescent lightbulbs are made of glass bulbs filled with inert gas (or high-pressure gases, in the case of e.g. {{w|sodium-vapor lamp}}s) and so are easy to destroy with any blunt impact, thus accounting fir the host's mention of "throwing rocks at them". Modern LED lights, however, are much more robust, which is why she is handing out crossbows to achieve greater projectile energy. An "[http://sonic.net/~rknop/php/astronomy/classes/a103/sum2006/info/angdist.shtml#xbow astronomy crossbow]" is a tool used to measure the angular distance between stars. They cannot shoot real {{w|crossbow bolt}}s, but any type of crossbow or other weapon could be used to destroy lights and "preserve" the sky. | |
− | + | The title text mentions that destroying lights could allow for the viewing of comets, which is true, although the host thinks that this creates more comets rather than merely making many of those that exist more visible. If the former were true, that might be linked to the host's views against too many comets outstaying their welcome, but it's still a side-effect they are willing to tolerate in light of their pursuit of less light. | |
− | + | ==Transcript== | |
+ | {{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} | ||
− | + | :[In a dark panel, a TV host stands in front of a group of people: Science Girl, Ponytail, and Cueball; the panel is inverse-colored, i.e. white text and drawings on black] | |
− | :[In a dark panel, | ||
:Host: Welcome back to Stargazing. | :Host: Welcome back to Stargazing. | ||
:Host: There are no new stars since last time, but you came back for some reason. | :Host: There are no new stars since last time, but you came back for some reason. | ||
− | :[Zoomed out on the same scene, the host is now with | + | :[Zoomed out on the same scene, the host is now with Science Girl, Ponytail, Cueball, Megan, and White Hat. The host is pointing upwards with her left hand.] |
:Host: That star is Vega. At magnitude 0.03, it's the brightest star I'm currently talking about. | :Host: That star is Vega. At magnitude 0.03, it's the brightest star I'm currently talking about. | ||
:Host: That one is Polaris. It's over the North Pole, which is all it has going for it. | :Host: That one is Polaris. It's over the North Pole, which is all it has going for it. | ||
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{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
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[[Category:Comics with inverted brightness]] | [[Category:Comics with inverted brightness]] | ||
[[Category:Astronomy]] | [[Category:Astronomy]] | ||
− | [[Category: | + | [[Category:Stargazing]] |
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | ||
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]] | ||
[[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]] | [[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]] | ||
− | [[Category:Comics featuring | + | [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]] |
− | [[Category: | + | [[Category:Comics featuring Science Girl]] |