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Space Is Just a Little Bit Closer Than Expected

Posted by timothy on from the winter-shrinkage dept.

SpuriousLogic points out a BBC story which begins "The upper reaches of Earth's atmosphere are much lower than expected, a US Air Force satellite has found. Currently, the ionosphere — a layer of charged particles that envelopes the planet — is at an altitude of about 420km, some 200km lower than expected. The behaviour of the ionosphere is important because disturbances in its structure can upset satellite communications and radar."

22 of 130 comments (clear)

  1. Wow by IceCreamGuy · · Score: 5, Funny

    skyisfalling tag has never been so accurate!

    1. Re:Wow by JustOK · · Score: 5, Funny

      yet, were is the proof that its not the earth that is rising?

      --
      rewriting history since 2109
    2. Re:Wow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Earth is growing! :o

      Oh god, i don't want to headbutt space!
      I'm building an underground city, if you want to live, follow me!

  2. interesting by Technopaladin · · Score: 5, Funny

    Thats a pretty wide margin of error.

    Things in the Ionosphere can be closer then they appear.

    1. Re:interesting by aaron+alderman · · Score: 2, Funny

      1) Send humans into space
      2) Redefine the boundary between space and atmosphere
      3) ...
      4) Profit!!

  3. So... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...the current satellites may be working just by chance?

  4. Obligatory by Revotron · · Score: 5, Funny

    Chicken Little, after many years of mockery, finally has the last laugh.

  5. Erosion of the ionosphere? by BadAnalogyGuy · · Score: 5, Funny

    If this is an actual erosion of the ionosphere, we may be looking at a serious problem. Whereas a hole in the ozone only amounts to a net increase of UV radiation (not that that is any good for humans), a thinner ionosphere means more solar wind removing our planet's atmosphere. Enough erosion and we'll be more barren than Mother Theresa at a Gay Pride festival.

    1. Re:Erosion of the ionosphere? by David+Gerard · · Score: 2, Funny

      Where's the car? We need cars!

      A good bad car analogy is: the ionosphere is like a Trabant, with an engine spewing out all manner of charged particles wrapped in a thin shell at best. And the effect being seen is like a stretch Trabant, as the thin shell is pulled beyond its limits. A pink one.

      A stretch Trabant is also what government-subsidised car makers would result in, resulting in worse ionosphere damage. Perfect!

      (Further) Off-topic: here's a heavy-duty Trabi mod: a V8 Trabant. They basically had to build an entire car frame and put the original plastic shell around it.

      --
      http://rocknerd.co.uk
  6. She's gone from suck to blow! by millisa · · Score: 5, Funny

    Has anyone noticed any large maid-like robotic entities in orbit? More importantly to our future, were there any winnebagos with wings nearby?

    1. Re:She's gone from suck to blow! by VJ42 · · Score: 2, Funny

      It's 1234

      --
      If I have nothing to hide, you have no reason to search me
    2. Re:She's gone from suck to blow! by Sebilrazen · · Score: 1, Funny

      It's 1234

      5!!!!!

      1-2-3-4-5? That's the stupidest combination I've ever heard of in my life! That's the kinda thing an idiot would have on his luggage!

      --
      "There are no facts, only interpretations." --Friedrich Nietzsche.
    3. Re:She's gone from suck to blow! by Amazing+Quantum+Man · · Score: 2, Funny

      What a coincidence! I have that same combination on my luggage!

      --
      Fascism starts when the efficiency of the government becomes more important than the rights of the people.
  7. Re:Commun ications by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Nonsense. There is no way this will affect communi

    [NO CARRIER]

  8. Global Warming Explanation!!! by sac13 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Now we know why the Earth is warming. We've just got less atmosphere to hold all the heat.

  9. Re:Even More Obligatory by Sebilrazen · · Score: 5, Funny

    Wow, 420 just took on a whole new significance!

    You looking to get hooked up?

    I got the new Ionic Chronic gets you so high, you'll feel like you're in outer space.

    --
    "There are no facts, only interpretations." --Friedrich Nietzsche.
  10. Charades by greg_barton · · Score: 5, Funny

    This reminds me of a party and a game of charades. To be perverse I decided to have my charade be "ionosphere" figuring I'd stump everybody and wouldn't be bugged anymore about playing.

    Wouldn't you know it? Somebody guessed it in 15 seconds. Yeah, I hadn't counted on a radar systems engineer being at the party. :)

    1. Re:Charades by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Your parties sound like a lot of fun. I think I'll stick to snorting blow off of hookers asses.

    2. Re:Charades by kaizendojo · · Score: 5, Funny

      Thanks Mr. President. We'll leave the light on for you.

  11. OK.... by SpurtyBurger · · Score: 3, Funny

    who moved it?

  12. Real title. by Thanshin · · Score: 5, Funny

    And with "just" they may be referring to the justice meaning. As in "Space's Justice is closer than expected". And "bit" might be about the binary unit, as in "it's a 1 closer or 0 closer.". Finally, the term "closer" could be about the baseball relief pitcher who closes the game.

    So, for all we know, the title could perfectly mean:

    "Euclidean's three extent dimensions are applying justice a little one or an equally little zero, relief pitcher who finishes the game, than expected"

  13. Re:Even More Obligatory by Reziac · · Score: 1, Funny

    I misread that as "Ionic Colonic", a seriously disturbing image on so many levels...!!!

    --
    ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?