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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.

7 of 120 comments (clear)

  1. no, don't care for it by jollyreaper · · Score: 0, Troll

    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.

    --
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    Sell the spice to CHOAM
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    1. Re:no, don't care for it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll
      Clearly we should name the dimmest and least interesting one after Clarke... idiot.

      Posting anon so I can call you an idiot AND mod you down.

  2. Not only that... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Not only is it entirely arbitrary to name the event after him, but don't you find it appalling that astronomers are naming something after a known pedophile? What's next, Comet John Wayne Gacy?

  3. I'm confused... by Anita+Coney · · Score: -1, Troll

    Isn't the "Arthur C. Clarke Burst" already used as a euphemism for cuming on a young boy's face?

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  4. Re:Overdoing it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll
    What, having the single most valuable orbit type named after him isn't enough? The orbit has the further advantage of actually being his idea.


    Yeah, right. If it wasn't for Arthur, NOBODY EVERY would have realized that a geosync orbit would be possible. Hey, listen, I admire the guy... but just because someone thinks of an idea first, doesn't mean it never would have happened. I'll guess that a year or two after he "discovered" it, it would have been thought of independently by a number of people. Just like the wheel, just like the electric light, just like the computer. You get a certain critical mass of technology and ideas just come naturally from it. Unfortunately, the people that get first to the patent office are sometimes called the inventor/discoverer.
    (remember how Columbus DISCOVERED America?)

  5. Re:If they find a new cluster of stars by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    I must have been in a hole - can someone explain this joke to me?

  6. Re:MOD PARENT UP by butterwise · · Score: -1, Troll

    Do you also believe in Bat Boy?
    I do.
    --
    If a baby duck is a "duckling," why would anyone want to eat "dumplings?"