The more we look at space the weirder it gets..

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

This is one of the latest images from the Cassini probe in orbit around Saturn. It's the small moon Pan…

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

[John HinkleyParticipant @johnhinkley26699]

Looks to me more like an upside-down teapot than a pan!

John

[Tim StevensParticipant @timstevens64731]

Upside down? Surely up and down have no meaning out there?

Unless the local inhabitants have invented a convention as a convenience – just as we have. We will have to wait until we mingle with the, er … Pantechnicians?

Cheers, Tim

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

So Bertrand Russel was correct, there is a small teapot in orbit, he thought it was between Earth and Mars, but he had the general idea right.

**LINK**

This has gone from sensible to bizarre in 2 moves

Edited By duncan webster on 10/03/2017 19:24:21

[Gordon WParticipant @gordonw]

On the radio this morning, a respected scientist said that an explanation for the flashes of light seen in outer space could be alien spaceships colliding. Now it is very possible that I misheard this, but I like it.

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Well there's not much room out there, and there are so many alien spaceships, with there drivers talking back home on their cell phones. It's no wonder there are so many collisions.

Ian S C

[Maurice Cox 1Participant @mauricecox1]

There must be a up and down in space; ever time The Starship Enterprise encounters another ship they are always the same way up, and in the same plane!

Maurice

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by duncan webster on 10/03/2017 19:24:03:

So Bertrand Russel was correct, there is a small teapot in orbit, he thought it was between Earth and Mars, but he had the general idea right.

It's not the teapot, its the crew of Pixies you need to watch out for.

Neil

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Maurice on 11/03/2017 11:19:14:

There must be a up and down in space; ever time The Starship Enterprise encounters another ship they are always the same way up, and in the same plane!

Maurice

In 'The Wrath of Khan' they (no doubt very deliberately) made trhis into a plot point!

neil

[John FlackParticipant @johnflack59079]

Neil……..

Cassini probe…….are we speaking Windy and his recent spell in hospital😷😷😷😷😷😷😷

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

This is probably the source of the workshop gremlins that haunt workshops all over the world, they must need the bits and pieces and tools to maintain their spaceships, they'v probably got that hidden in some dusty corner of the workshop too.

Ian S C

[GeorgineerParticipant @georgineer]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 11/03/2017 11:55:13:

Posted by duncan webster on 10/03/2017 19:24:03:

So Bertrand Russel was correct, there is a small teapot in orbit, he thought it was between Earth and Mars, but he had the general idea right.

It's not the teapot, its the crew of Pixies you need to watch out for.

Neil

My goodness, that takes me back! I was going to buy myself a copy when it first came out, but fortunately I heard my mate's copy before I shelled out the cash for it.

Back to your original point Neil, I have a theory that the Almighty keeps a watchful eye on mankind's attempts to find the Ultimate Answer, either to the universe or to sub-atomic particles. Every now and then, when he thinks we're getting too close for comfort, he slips another layer of complexity into the mix.

Douglas Adams's answer of 42, while a worthy attempt, was far too simplistic. At least another two layers of complexity had been added by the time it was first broadcast on the wireless.

George

P.S. Reading the small print, I think those are gnomes not pixies.

Edited By Georgineer on 12/03/2017 20:08:45

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Georgineer on 12/03/2017 20:06:59:

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 11/03/2017 11:55:13:

Posted by duncan webster on 10/03/2017 19:24:03:

So Bertrand Russel was correct, there is a small teapot in orbit, he thought it was between Earth and Mars, but he had the general idea right.

It's not the teapot, its the crew of Pixies you need to watch out for.

Neil

My goodness, that takes me back! I was going to buy myself a copy when it first came out, but fortunately I heard my mate's copy before I shelled out the cash for it.

Back to your original point Neil, I have a theory that the Almighty keeps a watchful eye on mankind's attempts to find the Ultimate Answer, either to the universe or to sub-atomic particles. Every now and then, when he thinks we're getting too close for comfort, he slips another layer of complexity into the mix.

Douglas Adams's answer of 42, while a worthy attempt, was far too simplistic. At least another two layers of complexity had been added by the time it was first broadcast on the wireless.

George

P.S. Reading the small print, I think those are gnomes not pixies.

Edited By Georgineer on 12/03/2017 20:08:45

It may be Radio Gnome Invisible, but they are definitely Pixies, of dubious repute!

I have a soft spot for music where progressive rock, avant garde jazz and general weirdness collide.

Neil

[OldMetallerParticipant @oldmetaller]

C'mon Neil, just say it, they are…Pothead Pixies!

Regards,

John.

[Geoff TheasbyParticipant @geofftheasby]

Of course there's an Up and Down in Space! Every right-thinking person agrees that North is 'Up', and all the planets (Except Uranus, which was drinking Pan-galactic gargle blasters last night) is in the same orientation, relative to the plane of the Solar System. Even Dr Who said, "Every planet has a North". Plus, the plane of the Solar System is in agreement with the plane of the Galaxy. After that, conversation becomes general… 

As for teapots, why not? What with rockets, space junk, whales and petunias, it's positively Clapham Junction 'Up' there!.

If a scientist thinks that flashes of light might be aliens, I suggest he consults Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell.

Geoff

Edited By Geoff Theasby on 13/03/2017 10:37:03

[Jon GibbsParticipant @jongibbs59756]

Posted by Georgineer on 12/03/2017 20:06:59:

Back to your original point Neil, I have a theory that the Almighty keeps a watchful eye on mankind's attempts to find the Ultimate Answer, either to the universe or to sub-atomic particles. Every now and then, when he thinks we're getting too close for comfort, he slips another layer of complexity into the mix.

Douglas Adams's answer of 42, while a worthy attempt, was far too simplistic. At least another two layers of complexity had been added by the time it was first broadcast on the wireless.

You're half right George but you've forgotten that Douglas A. had that covered along.

There is still no need for God. Those extra layers of complexity are being added by Benjie and Frankie Mouse

Jon

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 12/03/2017 20:17:52:

…

…

I have a soft spot for music where progressive rock, avant garde jazz and general weirdness collide.

Neil

Well no one is perfect! Personally I'd rather listen to Vogon poetry, for example:

See, see the tired sky
Marvel at its big turquoise depths.
Tell me, Neil do you
Wonder why the slime eel ignores you?
Why its foobly stare
makes you feel nauseous.
I can tell you, it is
Worried by your cowobbulated facial growth
That looks like
A cheese
What's more, it knows
Your flacking potting shed
Smells of grasshopper.
Everything under the big tired sky
Asks why, why do I even bother?
You only charm charm pits.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by SillyOldDuffer on 13/03/2017 10:55:58:

Well no one is perfect! Personally I'd rather listen to Vogon poetry, for example:

See, see the tired sky
Marvel at its big turquoise depths.
Tell me, Neil do you
Wonder why the slime eel ignores you?
Why its foobly stare
makes you feel nauseous.
I can tell you, it is
Worried by your cowobbulated facial growth
That looks like
A cheese
What's more, it knows
Your flacking potting shed
Smells of grasshopper.
Everything under the big tired sky
Asks why, why do I even bother?
You only charm charm pits.

Sounds more like John Cooper Clarke than a Vogon!

Neil

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

Can't be Vogon, I read it out loud and I'm still alive

[Cornish JackParticipant @cornishjack]

Original thread title suggested space was weird – given the responses so far, perhaps the weirdness is closer to home???

rgds

Bill

[Steven GreenhoughParticipant @stevengreenhough56335]

Well that’s an interesting connotation because weird-ness is an entirely human observation so if ever something in space is seen weird it’s only weird whilst we are seeing it…

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by duncan webster on 13/03/2017 11:55:15:

Can't be Vogon, I read it out loud and I'm still alive

Put your affairs in order Duncan. It's only a matter of time…

[Brian OldfordParticipant @brianoldford70365]

Posted by SillyOldDuffer on 13/03/2017 14:25:45:

Posted by duncan webster on 13/03/2017 11:55:15:

Can't be Vogon, I read it out loud and I'm still alive

Put your affairs in order Duncan. It's only a matter of time…

That reminds me of when I visited a friend in hospital whilst recovering from a triple by-pass. I mention he was only deferring the inevitable.

[Roger HeadParticipant @rogerhead16992]

Posted by Geoff Theasby on 13/03/2017 10:31:26:

… Plus, the plane of the Solar System is in agreement with the plane of the Galaxy.

Actually, I thought we (sol) were at about 65deg wrt the galactic plane?? Not certain, but just look at the angle it makes across our sky at night.

Or I might be completely wrong!

Roger

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