Talk:2828: Exoplanet Observation
Probably, related to the recent Webb discovery of interesting gases in K2-18 b's atmosphere: https://www.nasa.gov/goddard/2023/webb-discovers-methane-carbon-dioxide-in-atmosphere-of-k2-18b Rps (talk)
I am not finding a reference, but I think I read that Newton chose the word "spectrum" by analogy with the word "spectre" (which means ghost), since the rainbow colors were sort of "hiding" in the white light and were revealed by the prism. So it is not a coincidence that you can make puns like on this comic. Rps (talk) 17:59, 13 September 2023 (UTC)
- Well, it seems to be at least co-conceived as a description of an (after)image of some original source, but it doesn't easily get explained as to whether it went from the latin root (to look at/view) straight via the 'ghostly' spectre and on unto the split-rainbow thing. (Except Newton did believe invsome seriously weird stuff, back when science was a bit looser and chemistry was almost alchemy, so... maybe!) 172.70.85.187 18:39, 13 September 2023 (UTC)
- First, in Newton's time, those stuff wasn't weird. Second, what do you mean by "almost"? -- Hkmaly (talk) 22:37, 13 September 2023 (UTC)
- It always amuses me that I have to teach schoolchildren that Newton was a 'scientist', a word that didn't really exist in his lifetime. He considered himself a 'natural philosopher', which at the time was a posh way of saying 'wizard', as well as being an alchemist. 'Magic' wasn't taboo then, but was seen as an acceptable hobby for the idle rich. Interestingly, although modern chemistry arose out of alchemy (but isn't even nearly the same thing), the magical practice of natural philosophy still goes on today, completely unchanged except for its name... we call it 'physics' now. BTW, Newton decided that the 'spectrum' was composed of seven colours (and inserted 'indigo' to fudge the results accordingly) because 7 is the 'God-number' in Kabbalah.--172.71.242.221 05:10, 14 September 2023 (UTC)
- First, in Newton's time, those stuff wasn't weird. Second, what do you mean by "almost"? -- Hkmaly (talk) 22:37, 13 September 2023 (UTC)
This explanation fails to take into account that if life were discovered through astronomy (as opposed to interstellar travel) on a planet that what is discovered would be "in the past." Because of the distance which light travels from other other stellar systems to earth everything which is observed by astronomy is "in the past". Thus the statement "past life" is exactly what astronomers are seeking to detect. Inquirer (talk) 20:32, 14 September 2023 (UTC)
Hi ProphetZarquon, regarding "shadow" (Revision 323794), I didn't realise it had etymological connection, sorry for removing. I still think that the word "shadow" feels out of place if there is no explanation, but I think your edit summary would be great as part of the article. I couldn't find any reference for Latin "specter" meaning "shadow", do you have one? --Hddqsb (talk) 14:29, 15 September 2023 (UTC)
