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Planetary Alignment

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]

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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. This is presented in the same casual manner as a car mechanic might regarding wheel alignment, or perhaps even the tire balance.

Ponytail mentions radiation anomalies over the South Atlantic ocean. This is a real phenomenon, known as the South Atlantic Anomaly, where satellites experience increased malfunctions and solar 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 adjustment and retesting.

The similar previous comics 3037 and 3059 also had Ponytail as an inspector complaining about problems with the planet as if they were the client Cueball's fault.

Transcript[edit]

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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 handheld apparatus. She is talking 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 noticed any spacecraft equipment failures in that area?

Cueball: There have been a few, actually.

[The final panel shows the same as the third, apart from Cueball's gestures.]

Ponytail: We can give you a loaner while yours is in the shop. Is a gas giant OK?

Cueball: I'd really prefer a solid surface.

Ponytail: Sorry, it's all we have. But it'll just be for a few days.

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

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yum yum ^{[citation needed]}

Hiuiedeixgeyceiyedhcdiedcve {{trout}}

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11 January 2026

20:00

Talk:3188: Anyone Else Here‎ (diff | hist) . . (+147)‎ . . 2001:4c4e:1c11:9d00:48c2:5738:30e4:5596 (talk)

14:03

Talk:3057: Excusing Yourself‎ (diff | hist) . . (+150)‎ . . 76.176.69.232 (talk)

		11:59	Talk:1627: Woosh‎‎ (3 changes \| history) . . (0)‎ . . [82.132.239.242‎; 129.222.167.186‎ (2×)]
			11:59 (cur \| prev) . . (-14)‎ . . 82.132.239.242 (talk) (Not worth the Unsigned IP adjustment.)
			02:45 (cur \| prev) . . (-6)‎ . . 129.222.167.186 (talk)
			02:44 (cur \| prev) . . (+20)‎ . . 129.222.167.186 (talk) (→‎Woosh: new section)

		04:17	Talk:3192: Planetary Alignment‎‎ (3 changes \| history) . . (+562)‎ . . [Elizium23‎ (3×)]
			04:17 (cur \| prev) . . (+89)‎ . . Elizium23 (talk \| contribs) (→‎Relevant XKCD: signed. sorry!)
		m	04:17 (cur \| prev) . . (+9)‎ . . Elizium23 (talk \| contribs) (grammar)
			04:16 (cur \| prev) . . (+464)‎ . . Elizium23 (talk \| contribs) (→‎Relevant XKCD: Dantooine)

10 January 2026

23:56

Talk:1165: Amazon‎ (diff | hist) . . (+195)‎ . . Biran4454 (talk | contribs) (Latest data comment)

		N 19:20	Talk:3192: Planetary Alignment‎‎ (16 changes \| history) . . (+2,783)‎ . . [Youforgotthisthing‎; King Pando‎; TheusafBOT‎; 96.250.83.179‎; 92.23.2.208‎; 82.132.237.28‎; 75.111.176.208‎; 64.114.211.116‎; 2600:4040:99d4:8b00:f922:e24e:c61e:3ab6‎; 2001:861:8ac3:fa50:aeaa:c2ce:fdee:8131‎; Barmar‎ (2×); Elizium23‎ (4×)]
			19:20 (cur \| prev) . . (+327)‎ . . 2600:4040:99d4:8b00:f922:e24e:c61e:3ab6 (talk) (More discussion of 3037 and 3059)
			18:50 (cur \| prev) . . (-8)‎ . . 92.23.2.208 (talk) (I know what you dod there... ;))
			17:02 (cur \| prev) . . (+61)‎ . . 82.132.237.28 (talk)
			16:06 (cur \| prev) . . (+173)‎ . . Youforgotthisthing (talk \| contribs)
			16:01 (cur \| prev) . . (+223)‎ . . 96.250.83.179 (talk)
			15:23 (cur \| prev) . . (+85)‎ . . Barmar (talk \| contribs)
			15:21 (cur \| prev) . . (+611)‎ . . Barmar (talk \| contribs)
			13:37 (cur \| prev) . . (+116)‎ . . 75.111.176.208 (talk)
			11:37 (cur \| prev) . . (+67)‎ . . 2001:861:8ac3:fa50:aeaa:c2ce:fdee:8131 (talk) (point out a connection)
			08:46 (cur \| prev) . . (+165)‎ . . 64.114.211.116 (talk) (→‎Relevant XKCD: new section)
			06:25 (cur \| prev) . . (0)‎ . . Elizium23 (talk \| contribs) (fix model number)
		m	06:24 (cur \| prev) . . (+1)‎ . . Elizium23 (talk \| contribs) (syntax)
			06:24 (cur \| prev) . . (+57)‎ . . Elizium23 (talk \| contribs) (clarify)
			06:10 (cur \| prev) . . (+664)‎ . . Elizium23 (talk \| contribs) (→‎Inferior loaner items: new section)
			05:20 (cur \| prev) . . (+128)‎ . . King Pando (talk \| contribs)
		N	05:16 (cur \| prev) . . (+113)‎ . . TheusafBOT (talk \| contribs) (Created by theusafBOT: talk page for 3192)

		16:52	Talk:1672: Women on 20s‎‎ (3 changes \| history) . . (+486)‎ . . [82.132.237.28‎; 49.194.28.200‎ (2×)]
			16:52 (cur \| prev) . . (+171)‎ . . 82.132.237.28 (talk)
			10:25 (cur \| prev) . . (+2)‎ . . 49.194.28.200 (talk)
			10:24 (cur \| prev) . . (+313)‎ . . 49.194.28.200 (talk) (Hope I've done this right...)