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The Arthur C. Clarke Gamma Ray Burst

Posted by kdawson on from the second-biggest-bang dept.

Larry Sessions, a columnist for Earth & Sky, has suggested in his blog that the gamma-ray event whose radiation reached us a few hours before Arthur C. Clarke died, and which occurred 7.5 billion years ago, be named the Clarke Event. The outburst, which produced enough visible light to render it a naked-eye object across half the universe, is officially designated GRB 080319B. What more fitting tribute to Clarke than to associate his name with the greatest bang since the big one? Sessions suggests writing to any astronomers, heads of physics departments, or planetarium operators you know and talking up the proposal.

6 of 120 comments (clear)

  1. No Europa Landings! by explosivejared · · Score: 4, Funny

    Just don't name any missions to Europa after him! That would probably upset him.

    --
    I got a catholic block.
  2. If they find a new cluster of stars by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    If they find a large cluster of stars in the near future, I'll recommend "The Dick Cheney Clusterfuck."

  3. Minor correction... by diesel66 · · Score: 5, Funny

    What more fitting tribute to Clarke than to associate his name with the greatest bang since the big one? With all respect due Mr. Clarke and his burst, I would like to point out that Eccentrica Gallumbits is already well know as "the best bang since the big one".

    So long, Mr. Clarke, and thanks for all the fiction...
    --



    eleven plus two / twelve plus one
  4. Re:no, don't care for it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    The Clarke Event makes it sound like he was involved in it some way. Show that his death triggered the burst and I will be most impressed.

    "Look," whispered a Slashdotter, and Jollyreaper lifted his eyes to heaven. (There is always a last time for everything.)

    Overhead, in glorious blazes of gamma radiation, the stars were going out.

  5. So, what do you have against stars? by StefanJ · · Score: 4, Funny

    Seriously, what if there's a inhabited planet around one of those stars and they find out what we think of them some day? We might be the ones who end up getting the shock-and-awe treatment, with a Mother Of All Nova Bombs.

    The only collection of objects that might deserve the name Cheney might be a scattering of parasite-ridden coyote droppings. Although given that scavenger dung may have better poll ratings . . .

  6. Re:no, don't care for it by jollyreaper · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Look," whispered a Slashdotter, and Jollyreaper lifted his eyes to heaven. (There is always a last time for everything.)

    Overhead, in glorious blazes of gamma radiation, the stars were going out. "No, you dolt," said Jollyreaper. "It is a passing cloud." (The simplest explanation is usually the best.)

    "Ah, so it is," replied the Anonymous Coward, and crawled back into his cave.
    --
    Kwisatz Haderach
    Sell the spice to CHOAM
    This Mahdi took Shaddam's Throne