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Distributed Project To Classify SDSS Galaxies
Xandu writes "Be part of a human Beowulf by helping classify millions of galaxies from the SDSS at the Galaxy Zoo. From their about page, "Those involved are directly contributing to scientific research, while getting an opportunity to view the beautiful and varied galaxies that inhabit our universe. Why do we need people to do this, rather than just using a computer? The simple answer is that the human brain is much better at recognizing patterns than a computer. Galaxies are complicated objects that vary in appearance enormously, and yet in some ways they can be very similar. We could write a computer program to classify these galaxies, and many researchers have, but so far none have really done a good enough job. We have not been able to make computers 'see past' the complexity, to reliably identify the similarities that appear obvious to our eyes and brain. For now, and probably for some time yet, people do the best job of classifying galaxies."
They're good for something after all.
Perhaps they shouldn't all be killed then.
After I pick a galaxy out of the lineup, how I can I be sure that it won't come after me later? Many astronomical objects get really bent when they think that they have been incorrectly labeled, and they can hold a grudge for billions of years! Just imagine being outside on a clear dark night and looking over you shoulder and seeing an angry galaxy coming after you. Do you think you can run fast enough to keep out of trouble? I pity the people who demoted Pluto from it's planetary status, I bet that they never go outside when it's dark. I'd rather just mind my own business.