Asteroid Named After Douglas Adams

tc writes "MSNBC is reporting that an asteroid has been named after Douglas Adams of Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy fame. Fittingly, the asteroid carried the provisional designation 2001 DA42, thus commemorating the year of his untimely death, containing his initials, and incorporating the famous answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything. This seems like a fitting tribute to me."

Comments

Re:Perhaps a more fitting tribute?

[jobsagoodun]

Like a 13 mile high statue of him throwing a plastic cup?

Re:Fitting tribute?

[tibike77]

I'm sorry, but *some* people find it flattering to have a "something" (chemical compound, bacteria, virus, plant, landscape/landmark, street, village, school, building, etc) named after them - the closer that "something" is to what they wish (or just are) to be remembered by (in this case, THGTTG "trilogy in five parts"), the better.

So, excuse me for not sensing the "un-fitting-ness" of naming a (even very small and otherwise anost) space object after somebody who is remebered for his "space humour".
Also, for the less open-minded, do I have to remind you why we live in a year labeled "A.D." (as opposed to "B.C.")? I'm quite sure somebody else's demise date can (under cetrain circumstances) also be more memorable than his birth date.

But, please, if you wish to argue about the degree of appropriate / not appropriate, then by all means, please bring a more solid argument.

Timeless tribute.

[tod_miller]

For the guy who made me first laugh, then cry. It would be nice to see 2001 DA42 in the night sky, but I will be inside re-reading his books.

I hope he found some peace, and that his publicist hasn't found a way to contact him about his deadlines yet.

The ultimate dreamer, genius, slacker, geek and philanthropist. I hope his works continue to reach people and make laugh and sigh as much I as did.

Was this a special delivery from Magrathea?

The asteroid was already called 2001 DA42

[tod_miller]

There was an asteroid already incidentally called '2001 DA42' and they are using this asteroid to be named after Douglas Adams.

Which means the asteroid name is/maybe Douglas Adams, or they may keep the original incidental naming.

Either way, I know where my towel is.

Re:I always liked Douglas Adams

[Elphin]

I like him because he was the first person to tell me about Netscape. Sometime in 1994 I was lead developer on a product that won an award presented by Douglas, so I got to meet him after the presentation.

We got talking about the Internet. "What browser are you using?" he asked. "Mosaic" I replied. "Well, I only use Netscape now, you should check it out the beta". Sounds silly now, but it was a hot tip back then!

He was a nice guy. I had been to see Pink Floyd at Earls Court some time before meeting him, and he had actually been on stage playing guitar on "Brain Damage". He seemed rather pleased with himself about that.

All the time I just wanted to ask lame HHGTTG fanboy questions though. Managed to curb that. I did ask for more Dirk Gently books though....

Re:I always liked Douglas Adams

[MythMoth]

My recollection is that that the on stage performance was his 42nd birthday present from the band.

Personally I think the most disconcerting thing I've heard recently was Adams playing the part of Agrajag in the radio adaptation of his later books. Disconcerting because he was dead at the time they made the series (he'd recorded the part previously as, essentially, an audition to be in the series).

As you may remember, Agrajag is the character who gets reincarnated and then killed by Arthur Dent (accidentally) over and over again. Which is a bit spooky when you think about it...

Re:Enlighten me please..

[Long-EZ]

So, the rule is, you always pronounce the result in base 10, regardless of the base you're actually using?!?!? That can't be right. I think you're a basist (one who believes one numeric base is better than the others).

All your base are belong to ten.

Just because the hexadecimal 2A is difficult to pronounce for those accustomed to base ten, does not indicate that the correct pronunciation is "forty two".

Re:Perhaps a more fitting tribute?

[rthille]

I saw Douglas Adams about a week or two before his death at the University of California, Santa Barbara (where he lived). He wasn't there to talk about "The Hitchhiker's Guide" series, or Dirk Gentley. He was there to talk about his last book, "Last Chance to See", about the adventures of a BBC film crew filming the most endangered animals on earth.
I think, based on that talk and talking with a friend of a friend of his, that if you want to honor Douglas Adams, you should work to help save those animals.