See a Supernova From Your Backyard

hasanabbas1987 writes "Want to catch a glimpse of the closest supernova astronomers have discovered in the last 25 years? All you need to do is get yourself a small telescope or a pair of binoculars (some DSLRs would do just fine as well). Astronomers think that they may have found the supernova within hours of its initial explosion on August 24. Generally, supernovas are around 1 billion light years away but this one is only 21 million light years away. The supernova is in the Pinwheel Galaxy and you can see it within the Big Dipper."

Re:Discovered within hours of its explosion?

[Anonymous Coward]

From our reference frame, this happened hours ago. The summary is correct. You are not.

Re:Discovered within hours of its explosion?

[Missing.Matter]

Because that's what nerds do (and consequently why everyone hates them). They're infuriatingly pedantic, and love to correct people even on the smallest details because it makes them seem smarter (and therefore better).

Re:Discovered within hours of its explosion?

[fyngyrz]

Because that's what nerds do (and consequently why everyone hates them). They're infuriatingly pedantic, and love to correct people even on the smallest details because it makes them seem smarter (and therefore better).

More accurately presented / corrected is better, and the reason the people you call "nerds" infuriate others is because the lazy and low-functioning hate being reminded the things they believe are imprecise because they don't take the time (or have the ability) to think things out to a more precise conclusion.

It is not anyone's job to dumb things down (or leave them down, when presented that way) so you'll be comfortable. If the status quo is to be moved, up is clearly the ethical and moral way to move it. If it is not to be moved, you'll need a better reason than "I'm uncomfortable with statements that are more accurate than mine."

"Getting things right" is a much more laudable human goal than "keeping things approximate."

Further, in this particular venue, the audience is generally a good deal smarter than, say, on Gawker. If you present in a clumsy or inaccurate manner here, it's really kind of silly to expect it to go unremarked.