A really BAD Astronomy article from...

[Spaceman Spiff]

This article, which reports some interesting science to come from the Arecibo Radio Observatory (to map the MW Galaxy), does a pretty lousy job in its explanation. First, it confuses universe with galaxy, in this case the Milky Way Galaxy.

Then it says:

The radio telescope, the world's most sensitive listening device that is powerful enough to hear planets forming several billion lights years away.....The 1,000-foot-wide parabolic receiver -- composed of 38,000 aluminum tiles -- allows researchers to listen to sounds in space instead of depending on optics, like the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope.

aargghh! :x

Besides the issue concerning "listening" to radio waves :roll: , I don't believe the first statement is factually correct. Planets? billions of light years away?

Obviously, there are jobs for good science writers out there, if this kind of thing is allowed to pass muster. Actually, I am a bit suprised. Space.com usually does a decent job.

[The Bad Astronomer]

The article is from the Associated Press, and not a space.com staff writer. That would explain it. I am not sure space.com would be allowed to edit it.

[tuffel999]

Even if they can't edit seems they should not post it if it is inaccurate. Either write something themselves or shop for a different article would be the more sensible thing for a credible site to do.

[The Bad Astronomer]

I sent one of my friends at space.com a note. Maybe he'll drop by here.

[Normandy6644]

Yeah that's just bad.

[RoboSpy]

Planets billions of light-years away...*sigh*...

Can we even resolve details smaller than galaxy clusters at billions of light-years distance? Cripes, planets, they say!

[Lurker]

Planets billions of light-years away...*sigh*...

Can we even resolve details smaller than galaxy clusters at billions of light-years distance? Cripes, planets, they say!

Well... you have to be using the topsecret stuff that the CIA has... :wink:

[earthman2110]

I heard that same quote this morning on one of the news channels. I screamed, and woke up my whole family. oops.

[Brady Yoon]

Wow... that is pretty bad.

[Swift]

The radio telescope, the world's most sensitive listening device that is powerful enough to hear planets forming several billion lights years away.....The 1,000-foot-wide parabolic receiver -- composed of 38,000 aluminum tiles -- allows researchers to listen to sounds in space instead of depending on optics, like the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope.

In space, no one can hear you form planets.
(or something like that) :roll: