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Comet Hunting For The Masses

Posted by chrisd on from the scientific-progress-via-idle-hands dept.

khendron writes "In this article in Wired the most awesome past time is described. Comet Hunting. On you computer. No more cold nights outside with the telescope. Sit back with a cola, fire up the broadband, and start looking." From the article: "Amateurs looking at the SOHO images on the Web have found 76 percent of the 428 new comets that have turned up in SOHO images. Of the 31 people who have discovered comets, 21 of them are amateurs. They come from 10 different countries, including Australia, Great Britain, Germany and China. "

12 of 118 comments (clear)

  1. Wooosh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Cool. We can get recognition for looking at computer screens, at last!

  2. Geeks by jchawk · · Score: 5, Funny

    If there was a geek olympics would this be a medal sport?

  3. Comet hunting. I really want to do this. by Things+To+Do+Tuesday · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now, I have things to do Tuesday.

    1. Hunt comets
    2. Flee nerd-hunters

    1. Re:Comet hunting. I really want to do this. by 00_NOP · · Score: 2, Funny

      Nerd-Hunters, are those the same species as Nerd-Herders

      No the Herders are the free software version.

  4. Now much easier.. by groupthink · · Score: 2, Funny
    To run you own cult!

    Since our friendly neighborhood Heaven's Gate folk obviously got the wrong comet, it comes as a comfort the masses will have an easier time detecting these marvellous rocks.

  5. Re:ELE? by DanThe1Man · · Score: 3, Funny

    Of course you tell people, espesically the government. How else are they going to assemble the 10,000 best citizens and find all that Ensure nutrition drink?

  6. SOHO Sales Pitch by DarkHelmet · · Score: 5, Funny
    Telecommute to work and never leave the house? Have your groceries delivered to you because you're worried you'll miss a First Post? Have your DVD's mailed to you because you don't want to go outside? Meet women off the internet because you don't want to go to bars, or anywhere else for that matter?

    You, like many of the other slashdotters who browse this site may be interested in Astronomy. But alas, Astronomy is one of those "evil" practices where often one must go outside, or even to a planetarium to witness the night sky.

    No such need anymore! New and Improved SOHO gives you all the luxury of another nerdy hobby without ever having to leave the house! Just browse the pages, and you too can feel that you're at one with the night sky! Without even having to take your eyes off the computer screen!

    Ever worry that you'll lose your lovely monitor tan if you go outside and do anything! Not to worry! SOHO's experience fits in a browser window, along with your threads of GIMPS, SETI@Home, and ProgressQuest to boot! Contribute to 3 1/4 worthy causes at the same time!

    But wait, there's more! If you visit our Site, we will give you a nifty "I find comets while surfing slashdot" T-Shirt! This does well with the ladies when talking to them over the webcam.

    Act now! Web site is limited as this site is bound to be slashdotted soon.

    Visit today! Before that comet with your name on it becomes "Comet AnonCoward-23832"

    --
    /^[A-Z0-9._%+-]+@[A-Z0-9.-]+\.[A-Z]{2,4}$/i
    1. Re:SOHO Sales Pitch by Mika_Lindman · · Score: 2, Funny

      "Meet women off the internet because you don't want to go to bars, or anywhere else for that matter?" Ofcouz' ! Nowhere it's easier to meet women than in the net. Although those women are quite picky, since they got a lot from which to choose from. Also you should "date" only trough IRC, EMail, ICQ, whatever for few years, then get married and move together. This way you have to go outside your house even less! Doesn't future sound like bliss.. No wait! This is how I live NOW! I'm living my dream! Hallelujah!

  7. Re:Comet Whoring. I really want to do this. by nucal · · Score: 3, Funny

    Just one more comet ... need ... to ... find ... just one more comet ....

  8. OnMyGod! by mshiltonj · · Score: 2, Funny

    There's a comet hunting for the masses? Run! Hide!

    --
    Software Wars
  9. Re:Comet Hunter by frog51 · · Score: 3, Funny

    What's a comet shower? I've seen meteor showers, and I've seen comets but I don't think I know this one.

    Cool concept though - like 40 comets in a pack (or herd, or school maybe) orbiting together.

  10. Boy, is that evil or what? by GauteL · · Score: 4, Funny

    At least my initial thought when I read the headline "Comet Hunting For The Masses" was that some kind of
    comet is out there searching for masses of people to kill. Gives a whole new meaning to "Armageddon", I guess I understand all the drama in that movie now.