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New Horizons Returns First of the Best Images of Pluto

nasa.gov

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Re: New Horizons Returns First of the Best Images of Pluto

#5

Post by p1mrx »

amoruso wrote: post #3
dmd wrote: post #2

Is "6 miles" a standard unit of length?

I'm guessing it was originally 10 km. Someone probably added a scale bar in km and then was told to change the label to US customary units.

I get that 'murica is too stubborn to go full metric, but can't we at least start switching from "Imperial (Metric)" to "Metric (Imperial)" in the popular science media?

Re: New Horizons Returns First of the Best Images of Pluto

#8

Post by cmpb »

p1mrx wrote: post #5
amoruso wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm guessing it was originally 10 km. Someone probably added a scale bar in km and then was told to change the label to US customary units.

I get that 'murica is too stubborn to go full metric, but can't we at least start switching from "Imperial (Metric)" to "Metric (Imperial)" in the popular science media?

For what it's worth, using the term "'Murica" in your post comes across as demeaning, and is thus inappropriate for HN.

Given that the image is a product of an American-led project, it seems perfectly reasonable (however unfortunate for the scientific community at large) that standard American units would be used to describe it.

Re: New Horizons Returns First of the Best Images of Pluto

#9

Post by amateur_soclgst »

cmpb wrote: post #8
p1mrx wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I get that 'murica is too stubborn to go full metric, but can't we at least start switching from "Imperial (Metric)" to "Metric (Imperial)" in the popular science media?

For what it's worth, using the term "'Murica" in your post comes across as demeaning, and is thus inappropriate for HN. Given that the image is a product of an American-led project, it seems perfectly reasonable (however unfortunate for the scientific community at large) that standard American units would be used to describe it.

Don't worry about the 'Murrica. I'm sure he's from one of those 'Urop startups we're hearing so much about....

:^)

On topic I'm pretty sure NASA uses metric units, after they had that one launch in the 90's that messed up do to a conversion error between metric and imperial.

Re: New Horizons Returns First of the Best Images of Pluto

#10

Post by ars »

cmpb wrote: post #8
p1mrx wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I get that 'murica is too stubborn to go full metric, but can't we at least start switching from "Imperial (Metric)" to "Metric (Imperial)" in the popular science media?

For what it's worth, using the term "'Murica" in your post comes across as demeaning, and is thus inappropriate for HN. Given that the image is a product of an American-led project, it seems perfectly reasonable (however unfortunate for the scientific community at large) that standard American units would be used to describe it.

> however unfortunate for the scientific community at large

Why is it unfortunate? What difference does it make? The units are completely unimportant. Units are a completely arbitrary thing, it's quite irrelevant what you use as long as you know what you are using.

You will never find a real scientist complaining about them, you convert to whatever is easiest for your task and move on. The only people who complain about units are those for which the units make no difference - like the person who you replied to. If those units said any other number would it make event the tiniest bit of different to him? No it would not. That picture could say 6km, or 6leagues and it would make zero difference to him.

It's a form of bikeshedding - people won't talk about anything important because that's too complicated. But the units are easy and make you seem like you are "in the know".

But actually it does not do that, all it does is let everyone else know you have nothing more worthwhile to contribute.

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