What makes Cassiopeia A a fascinating supernova remnant from the 17th century?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A, specifically its historical significance and the interpretation of its observation in relation to the timing of the event. Participants engage with the coverage provided by the Washington Post and express varying opinions on the accuracy and logic of the reporting.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants reference the Washington Post's claim that Cassiopeia A is a remnant of a supernova explosion from the 17th century, noting its visibility from Earth.
  • One participant questions the logic of mixing the observation time with the actual event time, suggesting a lack of seriousness in the reporting.
  • Another participant rates the article negatively, implying dissatisfaction with its content and reasoning.
  • Humorous remarks are made regarding the Washington Post's coverage, including a fictional voicemail from Albert Einstein, which adds a light-hearted tone to the critique.
  • There is a playful debate about the existence of the ether, with a participant framing it as a binary choice.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express disagreement regarding the quality and logic of the Washington Post's article, with no consensus on the validity of its claims or the interpretation of the supernova remnant.

Contextual Notes

Some statements reflect personal opinions on the article's credibility and the nature of scientific reporting, but these are not universally accepted views.

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From the Washington Post's coverage of the IXPE orbiting telescope:
Cassiopeia A is the remnant of a supernova explosion that took place when a gigantic star collapsed in the 17th century. It's visible in the night sky about 11,000 light-years away
 
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Mixing the time of observation with the actual time of event?

Come on, starting a rant for every illogical absurdity picked from the news would earn me a permanent ban within a day, I guess :doh: Don't take this so seriously o0)
 
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On a scale of 1 ... 10, that WP article gets a "minus 3" - since we clearly can use any number we want to rate it.
 
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Washington Post answering machine: "You have 67 missed calls from the ether by Albert Einstein"
 
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nuuskur said:
Washington Post answering machine: "You have 67 missed calls from the ether by Albert Einstein"
Either there is an ether or there's not. It's ether-or.
 
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