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(: Nope, must have just been a transient error at my end. Leaving the commentary, removing the afterthought. Let it all be removed when the next Sandboxer comes along, if they wish.)
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== test ==
 
 
 
''lksjdflsjd''
 
 
 
'''Bold text'''
 
 
 
 
 
[[Link title]]
 
 
 
== ==
 
 
 
I'm just going to say... ''Amazingly'' quiet.
 
 
 
23 May 2022
 
      07:57 (User creation log)‎ . . [ <65ish‎ of the expected failed Spam accounts ]
 
  m  06:38 2622: Angular Diameter Turnaround‎ (diff | hist) . . (+4)‎ . . Theusaf (talk | contribs) (grammar)
 
22 May 2022
 
      23:55 (User creation log)‎ . . [ <the final act of the prior UTC day being to add to that day's list, obviously...> ]
 
 
 
I mean, in a good way. But unusual, even on the third day since a new comic, nust the one tweak in over eight hours? Just testing here, in case only Admins (and spambot account creators) are able to do stuff now. Doubt it, but I need to know and/or comment, right? ;)
 
[[Special:Contributions/172.70.85.211|172.70.85.211]] 08:25, 23 May 2022 (UTC)
 

Latest revision as of 06:19, 3 January 2026

Welcome to the explain xkcd wiki!
We have an explanation for all 3201 xkcd comics, and only 62 (1.9%) are incomplete. Help us finish them!

 Go to this explanation

Latest comic[edit]

.
Planetary Alignment
We're going to need to modify the surface to mount it on the test stand. Which ocean basin do you like the least?
Title text: We're going to need to modify the surface to mount it on the test stand. Which ocean basin do you like the least?

Explanation[edit]

Ambox warning blue construction.svg This is incomplete:
This page was created by SLARTIBARTFAST, CARVER OF FJORDS. Don't remove this notice too soon. If you can fix this issue, edit the page!

In this comic, Ponytail (presumably a planetary mechanic) is informing Cueball of the results of a planetary inspection.

According to her, the planet needs to be re-aligned, as the magnetic and rotational axes of the planet are 400 miles (640 km) offset from each other, which could create a number of problems with the planet, such as unbalanced magnetic fields.

Ponytail mentions radiation anomalies over the South Atlantic ocean. This is a real phenomena, known as the South Atlantic Anomaly, where satellites experience malfunctions and the cosmic background radiation is higher than average due to the alignment of the magnetic field as well as a massive rock structure underneath Africa.

In the final panel, Ponytail says that they will provide a loaner planet while Earth is in the shop. This is typically done with vehicles, not planets[citation needed], but perhaps this particular shop has a very large back room. Ponytail then asks if a gas giant is okay, as they are out of solid surface planets. This is likely alluding to the practice of car dealerships offering replacements or loaner vehicles that are very different from those brought in for service, which can greatly frustrate and inconvenience the customer.

The title text continues the mechanic metaphor, stating that they (the shop) will have to modify Earth to fit it on the test stand, asking Cueball which ocean basin he like the least, implying that they intend to remove or alter one of the Earth's oceans to mount it for testing.

Transcript[edit]

40x40px This is one of 36 incomplete transcripts:
Don't remove this notice too soon. If you can fix this issue, edit the page!
[Ponytail is approaching from off-screen, holding a clipboard and some sort of testing device. She is speaking to Cueball, standing to the right.]
Ponytail: The inspection revealed a few problems.
Ponytail: Looks like your planet needs an alignment.
Cueball: Oh?
[Close up of Ponytail.]
Ponytail: Yeah, your magnetic axis is 400 miles off-center from your rotational one.
Cueball (off-panel): Is that bad?
[The view zooms back out, showing Ponytail holding her equipment, with Cueball holding a hand to his face, as if thinking.]
Ponytail: The unbalanced magnetic field could cause radiation anomalies over the South Atlantic. Have you notice any spacecraft equipment failures in that area?
Cueball: There have been a few, actually.
[The final panel shows the same as the third.]
Ponytail: We can give you a loaner while yours is in the shop. Is a gas giant okay?
Cueball: I'd really prefer a solid surface.
Ponytail: Sorry, it's all we have. But it'll just be for a few days.

comment.png  Add comment      new topic.png  Create topic (use sparingly)     refresh discuss.png  Refresh 

Discussion

Make changes, try things out, or just have fun with the wiki here! Just leave everything above the line alone, please.


This is a test. PoolloverNathan[stalk the blue seas] 20:48, 16 March 2021 (UTC)

This is not. —While False (museum | talk | contributions | logs | rights | printable version | page information | what links there | related changes | Google search | current time: 10:51) 18:38, 17 November 2022 (UTC)
A foreign student asked me to help fight against his math teacher. That was unusual. He was in that class for just a couple of weeks. The teacher's phone number was sent to me. The student asked me to spam-call the teacher. 172.71.155.55 22:58, 18 September 2023 (UTC)

here i'm just messing around in html, ignore this

furhhfghure guyrburgryhuyvfr "rvhru"

interesting way of writing quotations xd

hmmm this one of putting "<p>" in a line break will come in handy for when i want it to start at the same place than the first line

Please beware that <p> on mediawiki also disables automatic paragraph breaks, so you need a closing </p> or you'll break automatic paragraph formatting for the rest of the page. Zmatt (talk) 22:06, 31 July 2024 (UTC)

edit: da hek did that "</div>" come from An user who has no account yet (talk) 14:14, 13 October 2023 (UTC)

hi uh its hard to get here. is this a reference to undocumented feature??? hmm... this is interesting.
108.162.241.216 02:05, 23 November 2023 (UTC)

Tomato soup.jpg Soup
Tomato soup.jpg Soup
Tomato soup.jpg Soup
Tomato soup.jpg Soup
Tomato soup.jpg Soup
Tomato soup.jpg Soup
Tomato soup.jpg Soup
Tomato soup.jpg Soup
Tomato soup.jpg Soup
Tomato soup.jpg Soup
Tomato soup.jpg Soup
Tomato soup.jpg Soup
Tomato soup.jpg Soup
Tomato soup.jpg Soup
Tomato soup.jpg Soup
Tomato soup.jpg Soup
Tomato soup.jpg Soup
Tomato soup.jpg Soup
Tomato soup.jpg Soup
Tomato soup.jpg Soup
Tomato soup.jpg Soup
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Tomato soup.jpg Soup
yum yum [citation needed]

Hiuiedeixgeyceiyedhcdiedcve {{trout}}

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Don't be a jerk!

There are a lot of comics that don't have set-in-stone explanations; feel free to put multiple interpretations in the wiki page for each comic.

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10 January 2026

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7 January 2026

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