3 ms·

i found this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photometric_parallax_method https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photometric_parallax_method > The photometric parallax m

by abiox 8y ago

i found this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photometric_parallax_method https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photometric_parallax_method > The photometric parallax method is a method of data analysis used in astronomy that uses the colours and apparent brightnesses of stars to infer their distances.

theamk 8y ago
From that link: > Strictly speaking, it does not actually employ any measurements of parallax and can be considered a misnomer.
abecedarius 8y ago
That page seems to be saying they estimate the star’s brightness by its color, then distance by its apparent brightness. If so, that’s an unfortunate name because it’s been seriously proposed to measure distance by how much the apparent brightness changes at half-year intervals. (But the particular seasons would of course be different for different stars.)
Florin_Andrei 8y ago
The word "parallax" is not appropriately used in that context. It's a misnomer.
- Nomentatus 8y ago
  But "misnomer" also means an inappropriate designation ("lousy choice of rubric") that is nonetheless the official designation. It's correct to refer to Greenland by that name even though it's mostly ice, and therefore a misnomer. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misnomer https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misnomer So the article's author isn't exhibiting ignorance, he just has to use the only word we have, parallax. My favorite misnomer is "bacterial competence." When damaged and so incompetent they need replacement DNA, bacteria open up to allow spare parts (from other similar bacteria that have been blown up) in. The name for this kind of incompetence in bacteria? "Competence!"
  - ScottBurson 8y ago
    My misnomer pet peeve is "passive restraints" in cars. These are restraints like airbags and automatically-applied seat belts that actively restrain the occupant. They're called "passive restraints" because, by being active, they allow the occupant to be passive (not having to bother latching the seat belt manually) and still receive the benefit of the restraint.

by abiox 8y ago

theamk 8y ago

From that link: > Strictly speaking, it does not actually employ any measurements of parallax and can be considered a misnomer.

abecedarius 8y ago

That page seems to be saying they estimate the star’s brightness by its color, then distance by its apparent brightness. If so, that’s an unfortunate name because it’s been seriously proposed to measure distance by how much the apparent brightness changes at half-year intervals. (But the particular seasons would of course be different for different stars.)

Florin_Andrei 8y ago

The word "parallax" is not appropriately used in that context. It's a misnomer.

Nomentatus 8y ago
But "misnomer" also means an inappropriate designation ("lousy choice of rubric") that is nonetheless the official designation. It's correct to refer to Greenland by that name even though it's mostly ice, and therefore a misnomer. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misnomer https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misnomer So the article's author isn't exhibiting ignorance, he just has to use the only word we have, parallax. My favorite misnomer is "bacterial competence." When damaged and so incompetent they need replacement DNA, bacteria open up to allow spare parts (from other similar bacteria that have been blown up) in. The name for this kind of incompetence in bacteria? "Competence!"
- ScottBurson 8y ago
  My misnomer pet peeve is "passive restraints" in cars. These are restraints like airbags and automatically-applied seat belts that actively restrain the occupant. They're called "passive restraints" because, by being active, they allow the occupant to be passive (not having to bother latching the seat belt manually) and still receive the benefit of the restraint.