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stellar_muddleSome of you may have noticed the hyped up news articles that "Astronomers are gathering in the Czech capital, Prague, hoping to define exactly what counts as a planet". I'd link the the NZ Herald one but it will bugger off shortly.
Reality check time.
Yes there is a large group of astronomers gathered in Prague for the next 2 weeks. It's called the IAU General Assembly. It's held every 3 years (the last one was in Sydney - I just missed it). It has at least 2500 attendees and lasts for 10 days with numerous parallel sessions. There will be a lot of talks and a lot of people arguing... and drinking and eating. The social program looks to be quite packed. You can download the 142 page program book off the astronomy 2006 website should you wish.
The planet definition discussion is for an hour on Tues 22 Aug (page 31 of the booklet).
In contrast (from the same page of the booklet) the Women in Astronomy discussion and lunch is over 3 hours.
But we know what the publicity heads after. I'm sure there will be all sorts of press releases closer to the time.
But in the mean time I well see what actual info there is in the booklet... There is some interesting looking stuff.
Reality check time.
Yes there is a large group of astronomers gathered in Prague for the next 2 weeks. It's called the IAU General Assembly. It's held every 3 years (the last one was in Sydney - I just missed it). It has at least 2500 attendees and lasts for 10 days with numerous parallel sessions. There will be a lot of talks and a lot of people arguing... and drinking and eating. The social program looks to be quite packed. You can download the 142 page program book off the astronomy 2006 website should you wish.
The planet definition discussion is for an hour on Tues 22 Aug (page 31 of the booklet).
In contrast (from the same page of the booklet) the Women in Astronomy discussion and lunch is over 3 hours.
But we know what the publicity heads after. I'm sure there will be all sorts of press releases closer to the time.
But in the mean time I well see what actual info there is in the booklet... There is some interesting looking stuff.
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off the wall question
Date: 2006-08-14 02:43 pm (UTC)So I did.
Strange musings, when one is too tired, in other people's comments 8->
Re: off the wall question
Date: 2006-08-15 07:26 am (UTC)For a better net source on the subject and such things, see Phil Plait's Bad Astronomy website and his comments on the subject (though it may migrate down in his news section). It was a full hoax in 2005 and a very inaccurate report in 2003. It is a bit ironic that this year, when said hoax is again released, that Mars is currently on the opposite side of the Solar System, hiding behind the Sun, probably giggling...
no subject
Date: 2006-08-15 12:28 pm (UTC)