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20-01-2011, 08:01 PM
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The Observologist
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Billimari, NSW Central West
Posts: 1,664
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Hi All,
Quote:
Originally Posted by mswhin63
More than likely as usual the media interpreted the information provided by the Prof and came to the wrong conclusion. Really it is the media that have done this. I wouldn't be judgemental to the lecturer until we get his side of the story.
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Agree. It is manifestly unlikely to have been the Brad Carter's fault.
You will notice it says:
When that happens, we'll get our second sun, according to Dr Brad Carter, Senior Lecturer of Physics at the University of Southern Queensland.
and clearly isn't in quotation marks but instead says "according to". This is journalist-speak for "This is my potted summary of what I believe he meant after I'd subtracted the waffle".
Always read carefully between the lines !
Earlier, in my original post I wrote some hyperbole: "Will someone please take the "author" of this crapology out-back and hit her very hard (and repeatedly) over the back of the head with a cricket bat until she promises to stop."
that some thought a bit strong. If you (or the mods) feel the same way please feel free to substitute the following:
Claire, please retreat to your office, (1) take your degree in journalism down off the cubicle wall, (2) remove from frame, (3) turn over and write 500 times on the blank rear-side:
"I peaked when I was doing the gossip column".
Best,
Les D
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20-01-2011, 08:34 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Blue Mountains, Australia
Posts: 1,338
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On the addendum at the end of the article ...
"Addendum: NEWS.com.au would like to apologise for their error - as we all know, Betelgeuse is the second biggest star in the Orion constellation, not the universe."
If they mean by diameter, what star is bigger in Orion?
It is the second brightest star in the constellation.
By mass, Alnilam and theta Orionis C are more massive and more luminous.
The article illustrates much ignorance in interpretation of whatever facts were available.
Regards, Rob.
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20-01-2011, 09:33 PM
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The Observologist
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Billimari, NSW Central West
Posts: 1,664
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Hi Rob & All,
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robh
On the addendum at the end of the article ...
"Addendum: NEWS.com.au would like to apologise for their error - as we all know, Betelgeuse is the second biggest star in the Orion constellation, not the universe."
If they mean by diameter, what star is bigger in Orion?
It is the second brightest star in the constellation.
By mass, Alnilam and theta Orionis C are more massive and more luminous.
The article illustrates much ignorance in interpretation of whatever facts were available.
Regards, Rob.
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Spot on.
There are no larger (by volume) naked-eye stars in Orion.
Alnitak, Alnilam, Mintaka and Theta 1C all have larger masses and higher luminosity (after bolomentric correction) than Betelgeuse. Rigel is line-ball – probably larger.
Betelgeuse is however ordinarily 2nd brightest in visual (apparent) magnitude (after Rigel).
The addendum at the bottom now reads:
" would like to apologise for their error - as we all know, Betelgeuse is the second biggest star in the Orion constellation, not the universe." (sic)
A few hours ago it said: "... second biggest star in the Orion nebula"
Original piece -- wrong.
Correction -- wrong.
Second Correction -- wrong.
Don't think for a moment that I have never made (nor purport never to have made) mistakes of fact in my writing or never been guilty of poor English. Far from it -- we're human beings for goodness sake and we all make mistakes!
But, I'm being forced to think very hard and long to remember another article that in such a short space made as many factual errors, used misleading imagery, contextually misrepresented correct facts, contained poor grammar and construction all rolled into one -- and then the two "corrections" are both wrong.
Could well end up finishing as 11,897,001,654 th runner-up in the 2011 pull-it-surprise ( errr ... Pulitzer Prize that is) competition.
Best,
Les D
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20-01-2011, 09:45 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Renmark, SA
Posts: 2,993
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"Crapology" - lol good one Les 
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20-01-2011, 11:07 PM
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The Observologist
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Billimari, NSW Central West
Posts: 1,664
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Hi Steve,
Quote:
Originally Posted by kinetic
Les,
I sense a great disturbance in the scientific community, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in disbelief, and were suddenly silenced.... 
Steve |
How could I possibly top that ... 
... I won't even try!
Congratulations -- you get my first ever ... rofl 
Best,
Les D
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21-01-2011, 01:01 AM
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It's about time
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 1,221
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Well, that's blown my cover as the "mysterious woman that controls the order of the universe."  riiiight
I'd better get cracking on the tin food storage.
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21-01-2011, 08:05 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,223
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I really don't see what the problem is. I quite liked the article. I found it humorous. I think it should be circulated every year with the Mars email!!
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21-01-2011, 08:11 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Para Hills, South Australia
Posts: 3,622
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Les, your comments are classic
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21-01-2011, 09:54 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Para Hills, South Australia
Posts: 3,622
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Nice article, statement below, I wondered who started it - Claire Connelly - I wonder?
Quote:
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Indeed, just in case anyone is concerned, Betelgeuse is way too far away from Earth to do us any damage. There's been some doomsday speculation of late around the eventual supernova - which might not happen for a million years, it bears repeating - but, as with pretty much all doomsday speculation, you can just ignore it.
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21-01-2011, 11:23 AM
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Senior Citizen
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Bribie Island
Posts: 5,068
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Cod's Wallop.
For Starters , this is incorrect :The star is located in the Orion Nebula, about 640 light-years away from Earth...... absolute rubbish .... get it right people
Someone should tell them Betelgeuse is part of the Orion Constellation ... not the Nebula .... and that the distance has been readily accepted as somewhere between 1000 to 1500 light years away.
Like to know where they get their info from.....Go back to school people and this time '' pay attention " in the class room......
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21-01-2011, 04:53 PM
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No More Infinities
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Townsville
Posts: 9,698
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Actually, Colin, the distance to Betelgeuse is around 640-650 light years, you'll find....and it was also a member of the Orion OB1 association which was (and partly still is) in the vicinity of the present Orion Neb'. Betelgeuse was flung out of the association not long after it formed, around 8-10 million years ago. It's a runaway star. It's traveled about 600-700 light years in that time.
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21-01-2011, 05:25 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 4,485
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How about the paper just fires the bimbo and her set of crayons.
Obviously she didn't check any of her facts or run the story back past her scientist source, the paper's librarian or the editor. Just bad writing by a person that has very little knowledge of what she is writing about.
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21-01-2011, 07:19 PM
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Senior Citizen
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Bribie Island
Posts: 5,068
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Quote:
Originally Posted by renormalised
Actually, Colin, the distance to Betelgeuse is around 640-650 light years, you'll find....and it was also a member of the Orion OB1 association which was (and partly still is) in the vicinity of the present Orion Neb'. Betelgeuse was flung out of the association not long after it formed, around 8-10 million years ago. It's a runaway star. It's traveled about 600-700 light years in that time.
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Ooops...!!!  I'd better do a refresher course myself.....my info is outdated.
I stand corrected.....Thanks Carl.
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21-01-2011, 09:27 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Blue Mountains, Australia
Posts: 1,338
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Quote:
Originally Posted by renormalised
Actually, Colin, the distance to Betelgeuse is around 640-650 light years, you'll find....and it was also a member of the Orion OB1 association which was (and partly still is) in the vicinity of the present Orion Neb'. Betelgeuse was flung out of the association not long after it formed, around 8-10 million years ago. It's a runaway star. It's traveled about 600-700 light years in that time.
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Carl,
To clarify your point ...
It may be a runaway star from the Orion OB1 Association but the article is still incorrect in stating that Betelgeuse is in the Orion Nebula (M42).
Regards, Rob
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22-01-2011, 11:51 AM
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No More Infinities
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Townsville
Posts: 9,698
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Robh
Carl,
To clarify your point ...
It may be a runaway star from the Orion OB1 Association but the article is still incorrect in stating that Betelgeuse is in the Orion Nebula (M42).
Regards, Rob
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Of course....but you wouldn't expect the reporter to know that 
All she was interested in was writing up some sensationalist diatribe.
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22-01-2011, 02:28 PM
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The Observologist
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Billimari, NSW Central West
Posts: 1,664
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Someone at News Ltd has been listening ...
Hi All,
Seems like one of Rupert's minions has been listening ...
http://www.news.com.au/technology/sc...-1225992757166
I did a 15 minute radio interview on 2GB at about 10.30pm last night to explode this myth.
Probably many others have done so too, but I also sent the article on to Phil Plait (Bad Astronomer) and it seems it is a subject of his blog in the next day or so.
Edit: here it is ...
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/
Dare I say it ... the truth is now out there.
Best,
Les D
Last edited by ngcles; 22-01-2011 at 02:43 PM.
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18-05-2011, 06:38 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Wanganui, New Zealand.
Posts: 50
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Across the major television network tonight in New Zealand 'they' reported with tongue clearly in cheek..
The impending doom of humanity from a Biblical prediction... Some old coot from Oakland California telling the whole of humanity to prepare for a Catastrophic event at 6pm on the 21 st of May... this Saturday...
That the network treated it with such humour was pleasing.. and they even asked him if he felt embarrassed to be associated with such a lunatic of a idea..
He said we would all die and must not think this is a joke... At which point the interview was cut and the news team smiled knowingly.. Why did they even bother ?
Not a great deal of news in NZ tonight a ?... while looking at a fab Moon rise tonight.
You know of this old coot ?
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18-05-2011, 08:07 PM
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Shadow Chaser
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Moonee Beach
Posts: 1,945
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Quote:
Originally Posted by astromark
prepare for a Catastrophic event at 6pm on the 21 st of May... this Saturday...
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My local curry house better not be shut!
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18-05-2011, 08:18 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Wanganui, New Zealand.
Posts: 50
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Harold Camping is the ' Old coot ' He does have a following of some numbers...
I must try the double down before 6 pm. What wine would go well with it ?
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