Bad Astronomy in Dish Network Commercial

[AtomicDog]

Aside from having two stoners servicing a satellite, there is so much wrong in this commercial:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ar9knSjvKzE&feature=related

The satellite is in way too low an orbit. Dish Network satellites, like all direct broadcast satellites, use a geostationary orbitwith an altitudeof 22,000 miles.

If the sat was in its proper orbit, it could never be reached by the Space Shuttle, which nears the limits of its orbital range reaching the Hubble Space Telescope at an altitude of 347 miles.

On the other hand, if we accept that the Dish Network astronauts are servicing a satellite in LEO, this means that the sat crosses the sky in a few minutes, making it useless for direct broadcast television, which uses stationary receivers which cannot track a satellite.

I know, I'm overanalyzing this commercial; but is it so hard to get basic high school physics right?

[Spoons]

I'm more annoyed at the use of "FREE" right next to "$24.99" and the additional fine print of $10/month after 12 months. But yes, when you provide that analysis it does raise the point that marketing and advertising has little link to the real world, facts and figures.

I guess what that ad highlights is the old adage, (har har, stupid pun!) never let the facts get in the way of a cruddy story.

[01101001]

Having the repair people in LEO looking up longingly at an unreachable broadcast satellite 20000 miles away, for me, doesn't scan. Please allow some artistic license.

I think it's good for mass-market consumers to be entertainingly reminded that space satellites are a vital part of their everyday existence. Never mind the geeky details.

You could use it to teach. How would you do a captivating commercial on the same theme? Tell them how to do it right next time.

Bad Astronomy :: Movies (http://www.badastronomy.com/bad/movies/index.html)


Even though the science in these shows is usually pretty bad, they do serve the great purpose of getting people excited about science, space and astronomy.
[...]
That's why I have these Bad Movies pages. The movies may not be bad, but sometimes the science is. I know they are fiction, so I try not to take them too seriously. My philosophy is: these movies have made an impression, and if it's wrong, at least I can use that impression to teach Good Astronomy.

[AtomicDog]

I thought that the whole purpose of this forum was that it was a place to nitpick?

[John Jaksich]

Atomicdog--

I am of the "humble opinion" that if I were to find fault with everything that I could find--then my ability to discern what might be "good" is diminished. I personally base this on the finding that (1) if the person who is responsible for an item of interest were to read it--they are more apt to respond to constructive criticism--than not----and (2) one's own ability to thrive in a hostile environment is sometimes diminished by the fact that "people --- in general can only take so much of a bad thing." This is again my personal findings.

[Gillianren]

I find being able to find fault makes me better able to appreciate the good stuff. As in Moon--there were errors, but they got a lot of other things right, which set it apart from the pack. I may appreciate fewer things, but I have better appreciation for the ones which deserve it.

[AtomicDog]

Atomicdog--

I am of the "humble opinion" that if I were to find fault with everything that I could find--then my ability to discern what might be "good" is diminished. I personally base this on the finding that (1) if the person who is responsible for an item of interest were to read it--they are more apt to respond to constructive criticism--than not----and (2) one's own ability to thrive in a hostile environment is sometimes diminished by the fact that "people --- in general can only take so much of a bad thing." This is again my personal findings.

Please, I am honestly not trying to be snarky, But I cannot understand what you are trying to say.

Can you rephrase it, please?

[John Jaksich]

I don't mean to be rude -- but may be I misunderstood you? Sorry?

[01101001]

I thought that the whole purpose of this forum was that it was a place to nitpick?

That's not what the Bad Astronomer did.

It's a little too easy. And maybe not so fulfilling.

I'm just trying to suggest something more constructive, more in the spirit of the original artist.

Pretend people are going to Google up that commercial because they liked it, or had a question about it, or wanted to read about it, and they landed here. What would you want to say to them?

[AtomicDog]

That's not what the Bad Astronomer did.

It's a little too easy. And maybe not so fulfilling.

I'm just trying to suggest something more constructive, more in the spirit of the original artist.

Pretend people are going to Google up that commercial because they liked it, or had a question about it, or wanted to read about it, and they landed here. What would you want to say to them?

From the title of this subforum:
"See something in the media that just screams 'Bad Astronomy'? Post about it here."

That is all that I did. And no one, so far, including you, has said that the Dish Network ad is not an example of Bad Astronomy.

So if I see an example of Bad Astronomy in the media, I'm not supposed to accept the invitation of the forum and post it?

[AtomicDog]

I don't mean to be rude -- but may be I misunderstood you? Sorry?

That's what I'm saying. I don't understand what you are trying to say to me.

I assume that you had some good advice to give to me, but I do not understand your post. Could you try it again, please?

[AtomicDog]

Pretend people are going to Google up that commercial because they liked it, or had a question about it, or wanted to read about it, and they landed here. What would you want to say to them?


I'm a nitpicker. I would say exactly what I said in my OP, that it was Bad Astronomy, and tell them why, hoping that telling them how Direct Broadcast Satellites are supposed to work would give them a better appreciation as to the technology involved.

[AtomicDog]

Here's a commercial that I like. Feel free to point out the Bad Astronomy in it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzPl43P2R24

[Swift]

I thought that the whole purpose of this forum was that it was a place to nitpick?


That's not what the Bad Astronomer did.

It's a little too easy. And maybe not so fulfilling.

I'm just trying to suggest something more constructive, more in the spirit of the original artist.

OK, I'll make it official.

What AtomicDog posted is fine. I see no particular problem with people posting their thoughts about things that are technically Bad Astronomy in various media, even if what they post is essentially nitpicking.

01101001's ideas are great, and being constructive and making it a learning moment is great, but it is not a requirement of this forum.

And all of you should know that in-thread is not the place to debate the appropriateness of a thread. If you have concerns about a thread or post, Report it.