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Identify Galaxies Using Spare Wetware Cycles

Posted by kdawson on from the blinded-by-science dept.

hazem invites us to have fun, learn about galaxies, and actually help astronomers by looking at pictures of galaxies and identifying the type. Warning: it's more addictive than Tetris. From the site: "GalaxyZoo... harnesses the power of the internet — and your brain — to classify a million galaxies. By taking part, you'll not only be contributing to scientific research, but you'll view parts of the Universe that literally no-one has ever seen before and get a sense of the glorious diversity of galaxies that pepper the sky. Why do we need you? The simple answer is that the human brain is much better at recognizing patterns than a computer can ever be. Any computer program we write to sort our galaxies into categories would do a reasonable job, but it would also inevitably throw out the unusual, the weird and the wonderful. To rescue these interesting systems which have a story to tell, we need you."

4 of 136 comments (clear)

  1. "More Addictive than Tetris"? by Nova+Express · · Score: 5, Funny
    One wonders just how the subitter used to play Tetris...

    "Tetris Diary: Day One. This will be an ongoing catalog of the various Tetris shapes I see while playing the game.

    First: A cube. Good start!

    Second: A clockwise L-shape. I can feel the tension mounting!

    Third: A counter-clockwise L-shape. What are the odds??

    Fourth: A counter-clockwise S-shape! A trend emerges!

    Fifth: A clockwise S-shape. Unbelievable!

    Sixth: A STRAIGHT LINE! WE HAVE A STRAIGHT LINE!!!!

    I have now reached the top of the screen and the game has ended. Will start again and try to contain my unbelievable excitement over cataloging shapes."

    --
    Lawrence Person (lawrencepersonh@gmailh.com (remove all "h"s to mail)

    http://www.lawrenceperson.com/

  2. Re:sounds familiar by Tablizer · · Score: 5, Funny

    I've been doing this for about a week now and I swear up and down I've seen some of the same galaxies more than once.

    To us white people, they all look the same.

    --
    Table-ized A.I.
  3. Re:sounds familiar by Tablizer · · Score: 5, Funny

    I've been doing this for about a week now and I swear up and down I've seen some of the same galaxies more than once.

    Slashdot editors should be relieved to know that dupes are a universe-wide phenomenon.

    --
    Table-ized A.I.
  4. Re:I did this as a summer job by Tablizer · · Score: 4, Funny

    I did this as a summer job. The good news: it put my name on two physics papers. The bad news: it's boring as hell.

    They should occasionally display the "Goatse Nebula" just to keep people awake.

    --
    Table-ized A.I.