Astronomy - USA (2020-01)

(Antfer) #1

8 ASTRONOMY • JANUARY 2020


ASTRO LETTERS


What’s in a name?
I appreciated Bob Berman’s October column and agree
with it. However, regarding Uranus, I have a justifica-
tion for using an incorrect pronunciation: As a docent
at the Michigan Science Center, whenever I’m discuss-
ing the solar system exhibit with a group that includes
teenage boys, I always choose to incorrectly pronounce
Uranus as “u-RAY-nus” to avoid sounding like a
bodily excretory function, which would surely elicit
distracting snickers and/or comments from the boys.
Since Bob and I have both been teenage boys at some
point in our lives, I’m sure he can see the point in this.
— Dick Simmons, Clarkston, MI

Picture perfect
In Bob Berman’s October column, he rightfully criti-
cizes the media’s fixation on headline-grabbing but
exaggerated or false stories. To a lesser extent, the
entire profession of astronomy can be said to do the
same kind of thing. The seldom-discussed truth is that
even what you see in even the best telescopes will never
match the majority of the photos in this magazine.
Yes, I know, the colors are not added randomly just

to prettify the photos, but rather are assigned accord-
ing to elements, and the length of exposure is usually
stated in the caption. But I’m sure there are still many
purchasers of new telescopes who are disappointed at
what they see because the vivid colors and details of the
photos aren’t there. The Moon and Saturn are great to
observe first-hand, but otherwise, my choice is to con-
tinue looking at your great photos rather than spend a
ton of money on a big scope. — Ken Simon, Ann Arbor, MI

The “why” question
A thank you to David Eicher! His editorial in the
October issue (“It’s elemental”) held an unusual fasci-
nation for me. I’m usually drawn to his editorials, often
reading them more than once, but I’ve read this one
enough to almost commit it to memory. Mr. Eicher
says so much about such an enormous subject in so
few words that it especially captured my interest. It
seems to me the question so beautifully answered is
more like “How did I get here?” The “why” question,
I propose, is bigger, with its answer being even beyond
the stars and the stuff we are made of. — Sim Fulcher,
Augusta, GA

We welcome
your comments
at Astronomy Letters,
P.O. Box 1612,
Waukesha, WI 53187;
or email to letters@
astronomy.com.
Please include your
name, city, state, and
country. Letters may
be edited for space
and clarity.

Free download pdf