Comments on: Google Earth… and Sky! http://blogs.earthsky.org/claremajor/2007/08/28/google-earth-and-sky/ ? / ! / . . . Sat, 17 May 2008 00:27:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.2.1 By: Steven Earl Salmony http://blogs.earthsky.org/claremajor/2007/08/28/google-earth-and-sky/#comment-201 Steven Earl Salmony Sat, 27 Oct 2007 21:23:28 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/claremajor/2007/08/28/google-earth-and-sky/#comment-201 http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/16956300/the_prophet_of_climate_change_james_lovelock/4 http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/16956300/the_prophet_of_climate_change_james_lovelock/4

]]> By: Laurel Kornfeld http://blogs.earthsky.org/claremajor/2007/08/28/google-earth-and-sky/#comment-160 Laurel Kornfeld Tue, 25 Sep 2007 04:42:52 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/claremajor/2007/08/28/google-earth-and-sky/#comment-160 Personally, I don't accept the term "dwarf planet" because of strong objections to last year's IAU decision, which was made by four percent of its membership in a very flawed process. The determination that a "dwarf planet," which linguistically is a noun modified by an adjective, is not a planet at all, makes absolutely no sense. I do believe the exclusion of Pluto and Eris is a byproduct of this decision and a textbook case of why the decision is so wrong. Before the IAU vote, there would have been no question of whether to include Pluto. Had the IAU adopted the resolution stating that "dwarf planets" are a subclass of the broader term "planet," we most likely would have Pluto, Eris, and Ceres in Google Sky. Instead, we have a great disservice to the public by the exclusion of all of these bodies--not very encouraging in what should be a project geared to public outreach and education. Personally, I don’t accept the term “dwarf planet” because of strong objections to last year’s IAU decision, which was made by four percent of its membership in a very flawed process. The determination that a “dwarf planet,” which linguistically is a noun modified by an adjective, is not a planet at all, makes absolutely no sense.

I do believe the exclusion of Pluto and Eris is a byproduct of this decision and a textbook case of why the decision is so wrong. Before the IAU vote, there would have been no question of whether to include Pluto. Had the IAU adopted the resolution stating that “dwarf planets” are a subclass of the broader term “planet,” we most likely would have Pluto, Eris, and Ceres in Google Sky. Instead, we have a great disservice to the public by the exclusion of all of these bodies–not very encouraging in what should be a project geared to public outreach and education.

]]> By: Clare Major http://blogs.earthsky.org/claremajor/2007/08/28/google-earth-and-sky/#comment-152 Clare Major Thu, 20 Sep 2007 19:24:26 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/claremajor/2007/08/28/google-earth-and-sky/#comment-152 Thanks for pointing out the correction, Gym. Saturn's sigh in that video is priceless. Laurel, you think this is a case of discrimination against Dwarf Planets? Thanks for pointing out the correction, Gym. Saturn’s sigh in that video is priceless.

Laurel, you think this is a case of discrimination against Dwarf Planets?

]]> By: Laurel Kornfeld http://blogs.earthsky.org/claremajor/2007/08/28/google-earth-and-sky/#comment-151 Laurel Kornfeld Thu, 20 Sep 2007 19:12:02 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/claremajor/2007/08/28/google-earth-and-sky/#comment-151 I was disappointed to find that Pluto and Eris are not included in the planets section of Google Sky, and I hope they correct this. The error regarding Saturn's orbit was probably due to an inadvertent error confusing it with Jupiter, whose orbital period is 12 years. I was disappointed to find that Pluto and Eris are not included in the planets section of Google Sky, and I hope they correct this.

The error regarding Saturn’s orbit was probably due to an inadvertent error confusing it with Jupiter, whose orbital period is 12 years.

]]> By: Gym http://blogs.earthsky.org/claremajor/2007/08/28/google-earth-and-sky/#comment-149 Gym Tue, 18 Sep 2007 13:55:16 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/claremajor/2007/08/28/google-earth-and-sky/#comment-149 They put up a correction! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEdz_-_3hLk They put up a correction!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEdz_-_3hLk

]]> By: lindsay http://blogs.earthsky.org/claremajor/2007/08/28/google-earth-and-sky/#comment-117 lindsay Fri, 31 Aug 2007 14:48:59 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/claremajor/2007/08/28/google-earth-and-sky/#comment-117 Robert, all I'm saying is Google employs some of the most innovative people who have ever watched videos on the internet. I mean, they have Google Video - surely someone within the company can recognize what makes a good video. For example, the video for the last new Google Map Feature, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91wuBqlny50" rel="nofollow">Street View</a>, was kind of endearing. That's what happens when you put a guy in an orange spandex unitard and then strap him into an icon costume - he climbs into people's hearts. Even if Sally Ride refused to wear a unitard, the Sky people could have at least cut the lame soundtrack and substituted it with one of the many Sally Ride songs available. Robert, all I’m saying is Google employs some of the most innovative people who have ever watched videos on the internet. I mean, they have Google Video - surely someone within the company can recognize what makes a good video.

For example, the video for the last new Google Map Feature, Street View, was kind of endearing. That’s what happens when you put a guy in an orange spandex unitard and then strap him into an icon costume - he climbs into people’s hearts.

Even if Sally Ride refused to wear a unitard, the Sky people could have at least cut the lame soundtrack and substituted it with one of the many Sally Ride songs available.

]]> By: Jackie Pike http://blogs.earthsky.org/claremajor/2007/08/28/google-earth-and-sky/#comment-116 Jackie Pike Fri, 31 Aug 2007 12:18:45 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/claremajor/2007/08/28/google-earth-and-sky/#comment-116 Google Sky is amazing! Just think of what it will be like ten years from now, as our modern technology improves and new discoveries can be shared with the rest of us, almost immediately! Google Sky is amazing! Just think of what it will be like ten years from now, as our modern technology improves and new discoveries can be shared with the rest of us, almost immediately!

]]> By: Robert http://blogs.earthsky.org/claremajor/2007/08/28/google-earth-and-sky/#comment-112 Robert Thu, 30 Aug 2007 22:47:56 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/claremajor/2007/08/28/google-earth-and-sky/#comment-112 The video doesn't seem so terrible to me - Saturn's period aside, it's Sally Ride and a guy from Google looking at Google Sky. Cool. I mean, sure, it's cheesy, but can anyone point to a clear, effective industrial demonstration video that isn't? It's not a prime-time tv ad for an suv. That aside, Google sky is pretty cool. They've got some kinks to work out, but I really like how it zooms in to the Hubble pics. Very cool. The video doesn’t seem so terrible to me - Saturn’s period aside, it’s Sally Ride and a guy from Google looking at Google Sky. Cool.

I mean, sure, it’s cheesy, but can anyone point to a clear, effective industrial demonstration video that isn’t? It’s not a prime-time tv ad for an suv.

That aside, Google sky is pretty cool. They’ve got some kinks to work out, but I really like how it zooms in to the Hubble pics. Very cool.

]]> By: jorgesalazar http://blogs.earthsky.org/claremajor/2007/08/28/google-earth-and-sky/#comment-110 jorgesalazar Thu, 30 Aug 2007 19:33:23 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/claremajor/2007/08/28/google-earth-and-sky/#comment-110 Pretty cool. If only Google Sky had some sort of feature where a trusted friend with decades of experience peering at the night sky could tell point out something really striking that you could go outside, look up, and see for yourself ... Kidding aside, I'm excited at how well it's caught on. We are just a pale blue dot. Pretty cool. If only Google Sky had some sort of feature where a trusted friend with decades of experience peering at the night sky could tell point out something really striking that you could go outside, look up, and see for yourself …

Kidding aside, I’m excited at how well it’s caught on. We are just a pale blue dot.

]]> By: Clare http://blogs.earthsky.org/claremajor/2007/08/28/google-earth-and-sky/#comment-108 Clare Thu, 30 Aug 2007 01:14:31 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/claremajor/2007/08/28/google-earth-and-sky/#comment-108 "Mustang Sally" is the song that came to my head, too, Lindsay. Judging by the lyrics, Lou Reed's "Ride Sally Ride" perhaps isn't about astronomy... I had trouble finding planets, but I'm sure with a few more hours of playing I could surf around with no problems. Any plans to incorporate Google Sky into Tonight's Sky, Deborah? ; ) Oh, and my favorite of Greg's lines (at 0:33 remaining)—the delivery is priceless: "Yeah... that sounds great." “Mustang Sally” is the song that came to my head, too, Lindsay. Judging by the lyrics, Lou Reed’s “Ride Sally Ride” perhaps isn’t about astronomy…

I had trouble finding planets, but I’m sure with a few more hours of playing I could surf around with no problems. Any plans to incorporate Google Sky into Tonight’s Sky, Deborah? ; )

Oh, and my favorite of Greg’s lines (at 0:33 remaining)—the delivery is priceless:
“Yeah… that sounds great.”

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