Abbreviations explanation

DJVege · #1 12-10-2007, 08:26 AM

Very n00b, but I gotta find out somehow!

PE = ?
PEC = ?

[1ponders] (Paul) · #2 12-10-2007, 08:30 AM

Periodic Error: Regular (periodic) fluctuations in the movement of your Right Ascension axis due to mechanical imperfections in the worm and worm gear.

Periodic Error correction: Some mount electronics can be adjusted to take into account the mounts PE and perform a correction to that error.

DJVege · #3 12-10-2007, 08:34 AM

Ooooh...now it makes sense when I read sentences with those abbreviations in them!

Thanks Paul.

rmcpb (Rob) · #4 12-10-2007, 07:52 PM

Maybe we need a sticky thread of the acronyms we so commonly use. They make sense to us but to a real person they are another language.

BluMoon (Guy) · #5 12-10-2007, 08:11 PM

Thats a fine idea Rob could'nt agree more!

[1ponders] (Paul) · #6 12-10-2007, 08:21 PM

Glossary

BluMoon (Guy) · #7 12-10-2007, 08:26 PM

Cheers Paul....should have found that really should'nt I

mill (Martin) · #8 12-10-2007, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmcpb

Maybe we need a sticky thread of the acronyms we so commonly use. They make sense to us but to a real person they are another language.

Awww!! We are not real persons

Just joking

It is very hard to decript all those acronyms for someone who just begins in astronomy or any new hobby they start.
I know when i just started, i didn't know what anyone talked about.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #9 12-10-2007, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mill

I know when i just started, i didn't know what anyone talked about.

I still don't

sheeny (Al) · #10 13-10-2007, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by [1ponders]

Glossary

I just did a check... PE, and PEC aren't in the glossary. Could be a worth while update. I'm sure there are more terms that could go in the glossary... probably always will be

... I guess that's the nature of the beast.

Al.

sheeny (Al) · #11 13-10-2007, 09:15 AM

Hmm thinking about my last post... is it worth while having a sticky thread like: "Terms not listed in the Glossary". The idea being if someone has a query like this, if they haven't found th glossary they are pointed there first, and if it's not there they post the question. Then who ever maintains the glossary can pick up the omissions and add them later...

What do you think?

This post is probably in the wrong place now...

Al.

GeoffW1 (Geoff) · #12 13-10-2007, 12:27 PM

Hi,

IMHO, a glossary isn't entirely suitable for explaining acronyms, as it is more of a mini-encyclopaedia used for finding short explanations of any and all astronomy terms (not just acronyms).

There is for instance an astronomy acronym list in Wikipedia, but I think that one has a lot of junk in it we here would never use.

So, I've just now sent in to Mike a concise acronym list which I've been building for my own use, started when I could not fathom what SBIG was. If he likes it, it may get put up for general use, and I'll maintain it thereafter by adding suggestions from you all.

Cheers

sheeny (Al) · #13 13-10-2007, 06:31 PM

Yeah Geoff, I agree a Glossary doesn't ned to be cluttered with entries for abbreviations, but I do think that for any term where there is an abbreviation it should be placed in brackets following the first appearance of the term.

For example, the glossary may include an entry on periodic error thus:

Periodic Error (PE)... blah, blah...

Most if not all browsers have a "Find on this page" function which makes finding this stuff easy.

Al.

GeoffW1 (Geoff) · #14 13-10-2007, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheeny

For example, the glossary may include an entry on periodic error thus:

Periodic Error (PE)... blah, blah...
Al.

Hi Al,

Yes, that would be a good way of combining the two. What say Mike? There is advantage in not having too many reference lists on the site, and if we could divide the glossary sticky at the header line with 2 links - "acronyms" and "glossary", maybe that would be workable. I am not really fussed myself.

At the bottom line, it will be what we find the most useful. I would like to assist in maintaining it, however it turns up, as I have found it great fun to search out obscure terms such as SXV (Starlight Express something)

Cheers

iceman (Mike) · #15 14-10-2007, 08:28 AM

Geoff, don't know if you saw this thread related to this one.

GeoffW1 (Geoff) · #16 14-10-2007, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iceman

Geoff, don't know if you saw this thread related to this one.

Hi Mike,

I had, but not your posts today until now. Sounds really good, should be very popular.

Cheers