- #1
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Media hype about meteor "showers"
Every year there's a lot of media hype about meteor "showers". I have watched the Perseid shower in the past, at its 'peak' and, although the occasional trail in the sky is exciting - even mystical - the term 'shower' is total hyperbole. Around one of anything per minute can hardly be described as a shower. This year, in admittedly poor conditions, I saw one definite and a couple of other maybe's, in a period of 15 minutes or so.
I am not complaining about the actual show; it is what it is and very welcome, too. But the wording used is almost on a par with advertisements for beauty preparations and new models of motor car. Where did Astronomers get this tendency to overstatement, I wonder? Most of the things they deal with are surely big enough and far enough away to justify impressive descriptions. 'Perseid sprinkling' would still be over the top.
I want my money back, you guys.
Every year there's a lot of media hype about meteor "showers". I have watched the Perseid shower in the past, at its 'peak' and, although the occasional trail in the sky is exciting - even mystical - the term 'shower' is total hyperbole. Around one of anything per minute can hardly be described as a shower. This year, in admittedly poor conditions, I saw one definite and a couple of other maybe's, in a period of 15 minutes or so.
I am not complaining about the actual show; it is what it is and very welcome, too. But the wording used is almost on a par with advertisements for beauty preparations and new models of motor car. Where did Astronomers get this tendency to overstatement, I wonder? Most of the things they deal with are surely big enough and far enough away to justify impressive descriptions. 'Perseid sprinkling' would still be over the top.
I want my money back, you guys.