| November 17, 2002 |
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Bad Astronomy
Astronomer,  teacher, lecturer, and all-around science junkie Phil Plait feels obligated to right the wrongs that have proliferated due to the questionable astronomy found in movies and TV. He even addresses everyday misconceptions passed by word of mouth. With clear, concise, and endlessly patient explanations, Plait shows how you can stand an egg on end any day, not just during the vernal equinox, and explains why there isn't really a dark side of the moon, just a far side (and why Pink Floyd would agree with him). His movie reviews address ridiculous science presented in movies such as Armageddon, The Mummy Returns, and Star Wars: Attack of the Clones. Even bad turns of phrase don't escape astronomical criticism. For example, people talk about a celebrity's meteoric rise when they mean someone became well-known very fast. But meteors don't rise -- they fall. You can find more detail in Plait's bad astronomy book, but his web site is an excellent primer. (in Astronomy and Space) |
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