explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

1253: Exoplanet Names

2013-08-19T15:15:08Z

Venger: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1253
| date = August 19, 2013
| title = Exoplanet Names
| image = exoplanet names.png
| titletext = If you have any ideas, I hear you can send them to [mailto:iaupublic@iap.fr iaupublic@iap.fr].
}}
==Explanation==
{{incomplete|1253: Exoplanet Names}}

On the 14th of August, the {{w|International Astronomical Union}} [http://www.iau.org/science/news/179/ issued a document] which contained, amongst other things, guidelines that suggested names should meet. These include stipulations such as "16 characters or less", "preferably one word", "not too similar to an existing name of an astronomical object" and "be respectful of intellectual property". If we go down the list, we can see that many or Randall's suggestions do indeed violate the guidelines. Which is probably part of the joke.

And yes, the document also states that suggestions may be sent to the email mentioned in the title text.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Star !! Planet !! Suggested Name !! Explanation
|-
| {{w|Gliese 667C}} || {{w|Gliese 667 Cc|c}} || PILF || Pun of {{w|MILF}}.
|-
| {{w|Gliese 667C}} || {{w|Gliese 667 Ce|e}} || e'); DROP TABLE PLANETS;-- || A reference to {{w|SQL injection}}, riffing off of [[327|comic 327]], which featured a boy named <code>[[Robert'); DROP TABLE students;--]]</code>. The idea here is that the IAU would enter the name into their system and promptly lose all of their data pertaining to planets.. Note that Planet e is located in the habitable zone of the star system.
|-
| {{w|Gliese 667C}} || {{w|Gliese 667 Cf|f}} || Blogosphere || rowspan = 2 | Weird synonyms for the word ''{{w|blog}}'' are a recurring theme in xkcd. See, for instance, [[181|comic 181]].
|-
| {{w|Gliese 667C}} || {{w|Gliese 667 Cg|g}} || Blogodrome ||
|-
| {{w|Tau Ceti}} || {{w|Tau Ceti b|b}} || Sid Meier's Tau Ceti b || A reference to the game {{w|Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri}}.
|-
| {{w|Tau Ceti}} || {{w|Tau Ceti e|e}} || Phil Plainet || Reference to {{w|Phil Plait}}.
|-
| {{w|Tau Ceti}} || {{w|Tau Ceti f|f}} || Unicode Snowman || The Unicode character [http://www.fileformat.info/info/unicode/char/2603/index.htm ☃]
|-
| {{w|Gliese 581}} || {{w|Gliese 581d|d}} || Ballderaan || A {{w|wikt:balls|crude pun}} on the planet {{w|Alderaan}} from the ''{{w|Star Wars}}'' universe.
|-
| {{w|Gliese 581}} || {{w|Gliese 581 e|e}} || Eternia Prime || A reference to the main planet of {{w|Masters of the Universe}}, {{w|Eternia}}.
|-
| {{w|Gliese 176}} || {{w|Gliesee 176 b|b}} || {{w|Fictional universe of Avatar|Pandora}} || The fictional planet in James Cameron's ''{{w|Avatar (film)|Avatar}}''. Also the Planet used in Boarderlands Games.
|-
| style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS', 'Comic Sans';" | {{w|HD 20794}} || style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS', 'Comic Sans';" | b || style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS', 'Comic Sans';" | Cosmic Sands || style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS', 'Comic Sans';" | A {{w|pun}} on the name of the font {{w|Comic Sans}}. (See also: [[590: Papyrus]].)
|-
| {{w|Kepler 22}} || {{w|Kepler 22 b|b}} || Blue Ivy || Blue Ivy Carter, daughter of musicians {{w|Beyoncé}} and {{w|Jay-Z}}.
|}

==Transcript==
:August 2013:
:The International Astronomical Union decides to start naming exoplanets, and—for the first time ever—asks for suggestions from the general public.
:They immediately regret this deicision.
:Cueball‏‎: Can't you filter out the worst ones?
:''The rightmost person'': This is '''''after''''' the filter!

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball‏‎]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Astronomy]]

1253: Exoplanet Names

2013-08-19T15:11:10Z

Venger: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1253
| date = August 19, 2013
| title = Exoplanet Names
| image = exoplanet names.png
| titletext = If you have any ideas, I hear you can send them to [mailto:iaupublic@iap.fr iaupublic@iap.fr].
}}
==Explanation==
{{incomplete|1253: Exoplanet Names}}

On the 14th of August, the {{w|International Astronomical Union}} [http://www.iau.org/science/news/179/ issued a document] which contained, amongst other things, guidelines that suggested names should meet. These include stipulations such as "16 characters or less", "preferably one word", "not too similar to an existing name of an astronomical object" and "be respectful of intellectual property". If we go down the list, we can see that many or Randall's suggestions do indeed violate the guidelines. Which is probably part of the joke.

And yes, the document also states that suggestions may be sent to the email mentioned in the title text.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Star !! Planet !! Suggested Name !! Explanation
|-
| {{w|Gliese 667C}} || {{w|Gliese 667 Ce|e}} || e'); DROP TABLE PLANETS;-- || A reference to {{w|SQL injection}}, riffing off of [[327|comic 327]], which featured a boy named <code>[[Robert'); DROP TABLE students;--]]</code>. The idea here is that the IAU would enter the name into their system and promptly lose all of their data pertaining to planets.. Note that Planet e is located in the habitable zone of the star system.
|-
| {{w|Gliese 667C}} || {{w|Gliese 667 Cf|f}} || Blogosphere || rowspan = 2 | Weird synonyms for the word ''{{w|blog}}'' are a recurring theme in xkcd. See, for instance, [[181|comic 181]].
|-
| {{w|Gliese 667C}} || {{w|Gliese 667 Cg|g}} || Blogodrome ||
|-
| {{w|Tau Ceti}} || {{w|Tau Ceti b|b}} || Sid Meier's Tau Ceti b || A reference to the game {{w|Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri}}.
|-
| {{w|Tau Ceti}} || {{w|Tau Ceti e|e}} || Phil Plainet || Reference to {{w|Phil Plait}}.
|-
| {{w|Tau Ceti}} || {{w|Tau Ceti f|f}} || Unicode Snowman || The Unicode character [http://www.fileformat.info/info/unicode/char/2603/index.htm ☃]
|-
| {{w|Gliese 581}} || {{w|Gliese 581d|d}} || Ballderaan || A {{w|wikt:balls|crude pun}} on the planet {{w|Alderaan}} from the ''{{w|Star Wars}}'' universe.
|-
| {{w|Gliese 581}} || {{w|Gliese 581 e|e}} || Eternia Prime || A reference to the main planet of {{w|Masters of the Universe}}, {{w|Eternia}}.
|-
| {{w|Gliese 176}} || {{w|Gliesee 176 b|b}} || {{w|Fictional universe of Avatar|Pandora}} || The fictional planet in James Cameron's ''{{w|Avatar (film)|Avatar}}''. Also the Planet used in Boarderlands Games.
|-
| style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS', 'Comic Sans';" | {{w|HD 20794}} || style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS', 'Comic Sans';" | b || style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS', 'Comic Sans';" | Cosmic Sands || style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS', 'Comic Sans';" | A {{w|pun}} on the name of the font {{w|Comic Sans}}. (See also: [[590: Papyrus]].)
|-
| {{w|Kepler 22}} || {{w|Kepler 22 b|b}} || Blue Ivy || Blue Ivy Carter, daughter of musicians {{w|Beyoncé}} and {{w|Jay-Z}}.
|}

==Transcript==
:August 2013:
:The International Astronomical Union decides to start naming exoplanets, and—for the first time ever—asks for suggestions from the general public.
:They immediately regret this deicision.
:Cueball‏‎: Can't you filter out the worst ones?
:''The rightmost person'': This is '''''after''''' the filter!

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball‏‎]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Astronomy]]

1253: Exoplanet Names

2013-08-19T14:46:25Z

Venger: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1253
| date = August 19, 2013
| title = Exoplanet Names
| image = exoplanet names.png
| titletext = If you have any ideas, I hear you can send them to [mailto:iaupublic@iap.fr iaupublic@iap.fr].
}}
==Explanation==
{{incomplete|1253: Exoplanet Names}}

On the 14th of August, the {{w|International Astronomical Union}} [http://www.iau.org/science/news/179/ issued a document] which contained, amongst other things, guidelines that suggested names should meet. These include stipulations such as "16 characters or less", "preferably one word", "not too similar to an existing name of an astronomical object" and "be respectful of intellectual property". If we go down the list, we can see that many or Randall's suggestions do indeed violate the guidelines. Which is probably part of the joke.

And yes, the document also states that suggestions may be sent to the email mentioned in the title text.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Star !! Planet !! Suggested Name !! Explanation
|-
| {{w|Gliese 667C}} || {{w|Gliese 667 Ce|e}} || e'); DROP TABLE PLANETS;-- || A reference to {{w|SQL injection}}, riffing off of [[327|comic 327]], which featured a boy named <code>[[Robert'); DROP TABLE students;--]]</code>. The idea here is that the IAU would enter the name into their system and promptly lose all of their data pertaining to planets. Note that Planet e is located in the habitable zone of the star system.
|-
| {{w|Gliese 667C}} || {{w|Gliese 667 Cf|f}} || Blogosphere || rowspan = 2 | Weird synonyms for the word ''{{w|blog}}'' are recurring theme in xkcd. See, for instance, [[181|comic 181]].
|-
| {{w|Gliese 667C}} || {{w|Gliese 667 Cg|g}} || Blogodrome ||
|-
| {{w|Tau Ceti}} || {{w|Tau Ceti b|b}} || Sid Meier's Tau Ceti b || Reference to the game Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri.
|-
| {{w|Tau Ceti}} || {{w|Tau Ceti f|f}} || Unicode Snowman || The Unicode character ☃ (http://www.fileformat.info/info/unicode/char/2603/index.htm)
|-
| {{w|Gliese 581}} || {{w|Gliese 581 d|d}} || Ballderaan || Anagram of {{w|Aldebaran}}.
|-
| {{w|Gliese 581}} || {{w|Gliese 581 e|e}} || Eternia Prime || Reference to the main planet of Masters of the Universe (http://he-man.wikia.com/wiki/Eternia).
|-
| style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS', 'Comic Sans';" | {{w|HD 20794}} || style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS', 'Comic Sans';" | {{w|HD 20794b|b}} || style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS', 'Comic Sans';" | Cosmic Sands || style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS', 'Comic Sans';" | A {{w|pun}} on the name of the font {{w|Comic Sans}}.
|-
| {{w|Gliese 176}} || {{w|Gliesee 176 b|b}} || Pandora || The fiction planet in James Cameron's ''Avatar''.

|}

==Transcript==
:August 2013:
:The International Astronomical Union decides to start naming exoplanets, and—for the first time ever—asks for suggestions from the general public.
:They immediately regret this deicision.
:Cueball‏‎: Can't you filter out the worst ones?
:''The rightmost person'': This is '''''after''''' the filter!

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball‏‎]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Astronomy]]

1253: Exoplanet Names

2013-08-19T14:41:46Z

Venger: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1253
| date = August 19, 2013
| title = Exoplanet Names
| image = exoplanet names.png
| titletext = If you have any ideas, I hear you can send them to [mailto:iaupublic@iap.fr iaupublic@iap.fr].
}}
==Explanation==
{{incomplete|1253: Exoplanet Names}}

On the 14th of August, the {{w|International Astronomical Union}} [http://www.iau.org/science/news/179/ issued a document] which contained, amongst other things, guidelines that suggested names should meet. These include stipulations such as "16 characters or less", "preferably one word", "not too similar to an existing name of an astronomical object" and "be respectful of intellectual property". If we go down the list, we can see that many or Randall's suggestions do indeed violate the guidelines. Which is probably part of the joke.

And yes, the document also states that suggestions may be sent to the email mentioned in the title text.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Star !! Planet !! Suggested Name !! Explanation
|-
| {{w|Gliese 667C}} || {{w|Gliese 667 Ce|e}} || e'); DROP TABLE PLANETS;-- || A reference to {{w|SQL injection}}, riffing off of [[327|comic 327]], which featured a boy named <code>[[Robert'); DROP TABLE students;--]]</code>. The idea here is that the IAU would enter the name into their system and promptly lose all of their data pertaining to planets. Note that Planet e is located in the habitable zone of the star system.
|-
| {{w|Gliese 667C}} || {{w|Gliese 667 Cf|f}} || Blogosphere || rowspan = 2 | Weird synonyms for the word ''{{w|blog}}'' are recurring theme in xkcd. See, for instance, [[181|comic 181]].
|-
| {{w|Gliese 667C}} || {{w|Gliese 667 Cg|g}} || Blogodrome ||
|-
| {{w|Tau Ceti}} || {{w|Tau Ceti b|b}} || Sid Meier's Tau Ceti b || Reference to the game Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri.
|-
| {{w|Tau Ceti}} || {{w|Tau Ceti f|f}} || Unicode Snowman || The Unicode character ☃ (http://www.fileformat.info/info/unicode/char/2603/index.htm)
|-
| {{w|Gliese 581}} || {{w|Gliese 581 d|d}} || Ballderaan || Anagram of Aldebaran.
|-
| {{w|Gliese 581}} || {{w|Gliese 581 e|e}} || Eternia Prime || Reference to the main planet of Masters of the Universe.
|-
| style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS', 'Comic Sans';" | {{w|HD 20794}} || style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS', 'Comic Sans';" | {{w|HD 20794b|b}} || style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS', 'Comic Sans';" | Cosmic Sands || style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS', 'Comic Sans';" | A {{w|pun}} on the name of the font {{w|Comic Sans}}.

|}

==Transcript==
:August 2013:
:The International Astronomical Union decides to start naming exoplanets, and—for the first time ever—asks for suggestions from the general public.
:They immediately regret this deicision.
:Cueball‏‎: Can't you filter out the worst ones?
:''The rightmost person'': This is '''''after''''' the filter!

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball‏‎]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Astronomy]]

1253: Exoplanet Names

2013-08-19T14:30:16Z

Venger: