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The Blistering Hot Exoplanet Where It Snows
cylonlover writes "Today's weather on HD 189733b: It will be hazy with high wispy clouds. The wind will be steady from the east at speeds approaching 6,000 miles per hour (9,656 km/h). Daytime temperatures will average a balmy 800C (1,472F), while the equatorial hot spot at 30 degrees longitude is expected to top 900C (1,652F). But, there is a high chance of silicate snow showers, with accumulations expected except in the vicinity of the hot spot. Just how much can astronomical observations tell us about exoplanets — those worlds orbiting other stars in our galaxy? With patience and cunning, more than you might think."
He didn't even call them canals - he thought they were a naturally-occuring formation - but a translation error rendered them as 'canals' when his work was translated to english.
He called them 'canali' which is Italian for channels; a word that does not carry the same anthropomorphic baggage as canals.
Thank heaven it didn't get mistranslated into cannoli - we'd have a line of Paula Dean wannabees lines up for launch.
Tiller's Rule: Never use a word in written form that you've only heard and never read. You will end up looking foolish.