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Name the New Gamma-Ray Space Telescope

Posted by kdawson on from the your-name-in-high-frquency-lights dept.

Ponca City, We Love You writes "NASA announced last week that members of the general public will have a chance to suggest a new name for the cutting edge Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope, otherwise known as GLAST, before it launches in mid-2008. NASA wants a name that will capture the excitement of GLAST's mission and call attention to gamma-ray and high-energy astronomy. 'We are looking for something memorable to commemorate this spectacular new astronomy mission,' said Alan Stern, associate administrator for Science at NASA Headquarters in Washington. 'We hope someone will come up with a name that is catchy, easy to say and will help make the satellite and its mission a topic of dinner table and classroom discussion.' The period for submitting names closes on March 31, 2008. Participants must include a statement of 25 words or less about why their suggestion would be a strong name for the mission."

25 of 131 comments (clear)

  1. Glastnost? by Nefarious+Wheel · · Score: 3, Funny

    Ushering in a new era for our ...no, can't say it...

    --
    Do not mock my vision of impractical footwear
  2. Why, GLADOS... by croddy · · Score: 5, Funny

    GLADOS: the Gamma-ray Large Area Deep-sky Object Surveyor.

    Just don't equip her with any neurotoxin emitters.

    1. Re:Why, GLADOS... by mdenham · · Score: 2, Funny

      You would have to ensure that it remains operational at temperatures up to 4000 kelvins.

  3. Some ideas by AlphaDrake · · Score: 5, Funny

    Far
    Astronomical Usefull
    Reaching
    Telescope

    Very
    Useful
    Lens
    Viewing
    Apparatus

    Super
    Long
    Apparatus
    So
    Humans
    Dont just
    Ogle
    Themselves

  4. Something cutting edge by ryants · · Score: 2, Funny

    How about... Compuglobalhypermegatelescope?

    --

    Ryan T. Sammartino
    "Ancora imparo"

  5. Gamma rays... catchy? by Firas+Zirie · · Score: 2, Interesting

    NASA wants a name that will capture the excitement of GLAST's mission and call attention to gamma-ray and high-energy astronomy

    I don't think that this topic will ever be exciting. NASA is doing PR work to get more public support and as a result, more funding. If they do want support, show the public some amazing images of what this thing can capture, then the public will be interested. It's sad that NASA has to do this instead of focusing on the science.
    1. Re:Gamma rays... catchy? by mefein · · Score: 2, Insightful
      If pretty pictures are what drive your boat, then I agree, high energy astronomy will not be exciting to you.

      If you care about science breakthroughs, then high energy experiments are the place to look. This is a branch of astronomy that is decades old, rather then centuries old for optical astronomy. The relative improvement of each high energy instrument over its predecessors is huge and the science leap is correspondingly large.

      Seeing the Universe for the first time in a new energy range is at least as exciting as seeing something we already know more sharply, but the images won't be as cool. I care about dark matter, physics in the presence of strong magnetic fields, gamma-ray bursts and the origin of the highest energy particles in the Universe. These won't make amazing images, but to me they are very exciting.

      Excitement in science might be in the eye of the beholder.

  6. The Hulk by CrazyJim1 · · Score: 4, Funny

    See if Marvel lets you have the rights.

    --
    God spoke to me.
  7. Of course by elronxenu · · Score: 5, Funny

    Gamma-ray
    Observatory
    Astronomical
    Telescope
    Special
    Edition

    1. Re:Of course by nleaf · · Score: 2, Funny

      Which would make it uniquely suited to search for black holes.

  8. Death Star by kitsunewarlock · · Score: 5, Funny

    I say we call it the "Death Star". Not so much for its abilities as we know it, but simply to scare off alien species who have used films to study our culture and will assume we have perfected the art of super-lasers.

    We should be ok. Everyone knows aliens read slashdot at the default settings, and if my other posts are any indication, I shouldn't get over a 2 (funny), tops.

    --
    Ginga no Rekshiya Mata Each page.
  9. eee by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Everybody Loves Gamma-Rays

  10. Asking the public to name things? by Happosai · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Mister Splashy Pants... [Happosai]

  11. Some suggestions by ElMiguel · · Score: 4, Funny
    NASA is in need of capturing the imagination of the American public and showing congressmen that they're a worthy investment. With that in mind, here are my suggestions:
    • The We Need More Funding Telescope.
    • The Sexier Than Natalie Portman Telescope.
    • The Protection For America's Children Telescope.
    • The We're Still Better Than China Telescope.
    By the way, I am available as a telescope naming consultant for the low low price of $200/hour. Hire me now and beat the other telescope making countries!
  12. how about by ionix5891 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Stephen Hawking Telescope? he is the most recognizable figure in astrophysics for a long time

  13. Simple really by eclectro · · Score: 2, Funny

    'We hope someone will come up with a name that is catchy, easy to say and will help make the satellite and its mission a topic of dinner table and classroom discussion.' Just remove some letters! Gamma Ray becomes GA-Ray, short for Gamma Advanced Ray. Everybody not only will be talking about it, but they would continually be looking up.
    --
    Take the cheese to sickbay, the doctor should see it as soon as possible - B'Elanna Torres, "Learning Curve"
  14. How about... by Grimbleton · · Score: 5, Funny

    Frank?

  15. Important stuff by Ralof · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Curious Yellow. Or maybe 'Universal Big Brother'

  16. Obvious really by Gandalf_Greyhame · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "Cowboy Neal"

    --
    I am not stubborn. I am right!
  17. Carl Sagan by Ganty · · Score: 4, Interesting

    As Dr Hawking is still alive I suggested the Carl Sagan telescope. Now all we need are 'billions and billions' more suggestions.

    Ganty

  18. Honestly by Z00L00K · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Don't forget that it was Paul Villard that discovered the gamma rays.

    In my opinion he should be honored by giving the name to the telescope. And considering that he actually isn't a well-known person outside the realms of the scientists working with gamma rays it's even better.

    Everybody knows about Einstein, Bohr and Curie, but there are many other.

    Of course - the site specifies that it isn't necessary that it's a scientist - it can be just about anybody. Just go ahead and suggest some names. I would not recommend names like "Iosif Vissarionovitj Dzjugasjvili", "Ilich Ramírez Sánchez" or "Saloth Sar", but your opinion may be different.

    --
    If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker would destroy civilization.
  19. My name by Lally+Singh · · Score: 2, Funny

    GIANT SPACE PENETRATOR.

    I don't have an acronym for it. I think it'll get the attention necessary.

    --
    Care about electronic freedom? Consider donating to the EFF!
  20. It's a Hulking telescope, so... by E-Lad · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The "Robert Bruce Banner Gamma Telescope" would make sense.

  21. How about naming it after someone by eonlabs · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The Banner Space Telescope
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hulk_(comics)

    --
    I wouldn't consider the mad hatter mad. Just reality impaired. He sure can make a mean cup of tea.
  22. Excremental! by GDI+Lord · · Score: 2, Funny

    "NASA wants a name that will capture the excitement of GLAST's mission and call attention to gamma-ray and *high-energy astronomy*. Special High Intensity Telescope

    --
    You know its love when you memorize her IP address to skip DNS overhead.