Astronomy stuff for "Bart's Comet"
Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey
> I liked this one mucho! Awesome episode. Here's my list of
> Astronomy-related stuff for "Bart's Comet":
Robert refers to episode [2F11] of the animated comedy series *The
Simpsons*, which aired Sunday night in the U.S. A comet discovered by
Bart Simpson turns out to be on a collision course with his home
town, Springfield, U.S.A.
The writers on *The Simpsons* frequently poke fun at nerds who have no
life, especially those who spend too much time on the Net.
Nevertheless, I will fearlessly add to the no-life discussion of
astronomy on the show. It was the funniest episode in quite a while,
especially its first half. Was it objectively funny, or did I just
like it because I'm an astronomical kind of guy? Heck, don't ask me.
Slight spoilers may follow.
> (1) Skinner's scope looked like a 60mm (2.4") reflector on an altitude-
> azimuth mount.
[...]
> (2a) Right Ascension is essentially celestial longitude measured eastward
> from the Vernal Equinox (the point where the Celestial Equator crosses
> the Ecliptic, or the Sun's path on the sky). Right Ascension is measured
> in sexagesimal hours, minutes, and seconds.
>
> Declination is celestial latitude, measured from the celestial equator
> (0 degrees) to the North and South Celestial Poles (+90, -90 degrees,
> respectively). The Celestial Equator and Poles are the extension into
> space of the Earth's Equator and Poles. Declination is measured in
> sexagesimal degrees, minutes, and seconds. And, for the record,
> 6 hours RA, 12 degrees Decl. is in the constellation of Orion.
Yup.
Skinner is sweeping the sky in declination, one degree at a time,
beginning with 6 h 19 m RA, 14 deg 22' declination and ending
at 6 h 19 m, 14 deg 59 min where he spots a surprising object.
He phones an observatory and they confirm the sighting which, alas,
turns out to be a weather balloon. The location is on a line between
Gamma Gemini and Zeta Orionis. I considered mentioning that Zeta
Orionis is a triple star system, but rejected the idea as just *too*
nerdly.
While the principal is distracted chasing the balloon, Bart fools
around with the scopes and spots a bright comet with a prominent tail.
He hits the REDIAL button on Skinner's phone and announces his
discovery to the astronomers.
Bart's comet first appears at numbers he reports as 4-12-8-7, which we
may interpret as 4 h 12 m RA, 8 deg 7 min declination (presumably
positive declination-- the astronomers have no trouble finding the
comet from Bart's phone call, and they don't ask him about the sign of
the declination). This is in Taurus, close to Mu Taurii and 46
Taurii.
> (3) Skinner could not have read RA and Dec from his telescope's setting
> circles, as his scope was on an Altitude-Azimuth mount. One's altitude and
> azimuth (direction from N) is not the same as one's latitude and longitude,
> after all!
Cut 'em a little slack, Robert!
Sorry, that outburst was contrary to the spirit of a no-life posting.
It won't happen again. I'll attempt to redeem myself by asking this:
By the way, didn't those air-to air missiles look more like Sparrows
than Sidewinders? (-:
In Chicago, a 10-second promo for flamboyant newscaster Walter
Jacobson "walked on" part of Kent Brockman's live coverage of the
impending disaster. This is amusing because Jacobson is probably the
closest equivalent our city has to Brockman.
Good lines:
"I am going to punish you, Bart, and it won't be a simple caning this
time! [...] You will assist me with my amateur astronomy!"
--Principal Skinner, Springfield Elementary School
"Ah, there's nothing more exciting than science! You get all the fun
of sitting still... being quiet... writing down numbers... paying
attention-- Science has it all!" --Skinner again, definitely sigfile
fodder!
Grandpa Simpson: "Sounds like the Doomsday Whistle... ain't been
blown for nigh over three years!"
A dismayed Lisa Simpson: I can't believe that extra-thick layer of
pollution that I've actually picketed against is what burned up the
comet!"
Moe the tavernkeeper, after disaster is narrowly averted:
"Let's go burn down the observatory, so this'll never happen
again!"
Crowd: "Yeah!"
[Hey, it worked with the SSC.]
All in all, it was much more entertaining and scientifically accurate
than *Without Warning*.
Bill Higgins, Beam Jockey | If a comet falls on Jupiter
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory | and nobody hears it,
Bitnet: HIG...@FNAL.BITNET | does it make a noise?
Internet: HIG...@FNAL.FNAL.GOV |
SPAN/Hepnet: 43009::HIGGINS | --Dr. Barry D. Gehm
