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No, but that probably would be a good idea Isaac Send a noteboard - 06/05/2012 09:58:52 PM
Most physics terms are just descriptive, like Giant Radiating Dyke Swarms and the dickitization caused by dyke intrusion, which is exactly what it sounds like. They only start sounding arcane from getting lipstick slathered on them in pop-sci or sci-fi, same as in medicine I'd imagine, though particle physicists seem to go out of their way to give things queer names.

thanks. very interesting. My brother just got into grad school for astrophysics, but he very much focuses on the "physics" (specifically the quantum ones) so he's not incredibly helpful. he waxes on about the way-too-technical-for-me aspects.


Fear not, he'll invariably end up having to spend a lot of time teaching introductory courses or labs in his first couple years, that tends to grind off the worst tendencies toward techno-babble. Regrettably though Astro has virtually no segue potential besides radioactive dating, screaming about sci-fi movies, or maybe xenobiology so you are likely to have no option but to zone out entirely or scream STFU! as coping mechanisms for when the way too technical stuff occurs. Though at least in your case you've your own bag of field jargon to counterattack with
The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.
- Albert Einstein

King of Cairhien 20-7-2
Chancellor of the Landsraad, Archduke of Is'Mod
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/Survey: What'd the supermoon look like from your place? - 06/05/2012 05:38:02 AM 633 Views
Re: /Survey: What'd the supermoon look like from your place? - 06/05/2012 09:51:14 AM 304 Views
Like this really big, really grey mush going from one horizon to the next - 06/05/2012 10:39:09 AM 300 Views
They're not very common, depending on how you define one - 06/05/2012 05:57:25 PM 421 Views
I can see why the news chose "supermoon" over Syzygy - 06/05/2012 07:24:15 PM 387 Views
Well it would be a 'Perigee-Syzygy', which is admittedly more of a mouthful - 06/05/2012 07:58:26 PM 421 Views
do y'all try to make everything rhyme? - 06/05/2012 08:31:46 PM 370 Views
No, but that probably would be a good idea - 06/05/2012 09:58:52 PM 270 Views
Like this really big, really grey mush going from one horizon to the next - 06/05/2012 10:39:09 AM 284 Views
Oops, posted twice. *NM* - 06/05/2012 10:39:39 AM 137 Views
WHAT IS THE SUPERMOON!? AND IS IT A SPACE STATION?! *NM* - 06/05/2012 11:47:17 AM 151 Views
It's too big to be a space station. *NM* - 06/05/2012 02:44:06 PM 141 Views
Clouds. It looked like clouds. - 06/05/2012 02:20:38 PM 296 Views
Like the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. *NM* - 06/05/2012 02:44:46 PM 142 Views
Don't know, Don't care. - 06/05/2012 04:26:25 PM 368 Views
*nod* that is much more important. *NM* - 06/05/2012 07:24:48 PM 165 Views
Not really in to astrology. *NM* - 06/05/2012 06:08:58 PM 139 Views
I'm sorry if my use of the astrological term bothers you. I didn't realize it came from there. - 06/05/2012 07:21:41 PM 400 Views
At a guess ... - 06/05/2012 08:11:11 PM 321 Views
Ya know, I think I actually like the term 'supermoon' now - 06/05/2012 09:47:15 PM 517 Views
Sorry, not really in to astronomy either. - 06/05/2012 09:19:44 PM 337 Views
fair enough Sorry, I figured you were trollin' - 06/05/2012 09:26:53 PM 377 Views
Re: /Survey: What'd the supermoon look like from your place? - 06/05/2012 07:22:33 PM 353 Views
Is that why it was so bright the other night? *NM* - 07/05/2012 12:38:56 PM 154 Views
That's no moon! - 07/05/2012 05:46:00 PM 376 Views
The key word being "looked." - 10/05/2012 06:44:11 PM 302 Views

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