4 ms·

To be honest, it would have been better to explain how they do the spectroscopy than to just say "you don't understand" and downvote. I should have raised a que

To be honest, it would have been better to explain how they do the spectroscopy than to just say "you don't understand" and downvote. I should have raised a question instead of making a statement, the response should have been an explanation, instead of basically "you're an idiot" (which still no one has done as of this time). They are making the same error I did. The article posted didn't explain, the paper costs $9 to read. I wouldn't call this a productive discussion at this point. Edit: someone just attempted to explain the technology behind it, thanks amluto

dwaltrip 8y ago
Respect for recognizing that you started things off on the wrong foot. Not everyone is willing to take ownership like that. You are totally right, the best response is a clear, calm explanation. Unfortunately, the time, energy, and expertise to do so is not always available. It's in moments like those where I hesitate between ignoring the comment entirely and downvoting. As for transit spectroscopy, I'm going off memory/rederivation/speculation here (not sure how much of each), but I believe it works by first taking the spectrum of the parent star by itself, then observing the spectrum of the starlight travelling through the transiting planet's atmosphere, and then diffing the two results to isolate the spectrum of the planet's atmosphere.
- cgriswald 8y ago
  It works basically like that. The spectrum of the star will be an absorption spectrum. The star produces a continuous spectrum and then the atoms in its atmosphere absorb specific wavelengths. The light then travels through the planet's atmosphere where other atoms and molecules absorb other wavelengths; the signatures of which are known, telling scientists the makeup of the atmosphere.
  - dwaltrip 8y ago
    Ah yeah, that makes sense. Thanks for clarifying!
somebadguy 8y ago
Sure, you’re the victim here.
spacehome 8y ago
Email the authors. There's a 50-50 chance they'll just give you the paper. Though I wouldn't lead with calling BS ...

dwaltrip 8y ago

Respect for recognizing that you started things off on the wrong foot. Not everyone is willing to take ownership like that. You are totally right, the best response is a clear, calm explanation. Unfortunately, the time, energy, and expertise to do so is not always available. It's in moments like those where I hesitate between ignoring the comment entirely and downvoting. As for transit spectroscopy, I'm going off memory/rederivation/speculation here (not sure how much of each), but I believe it works by first taking the spectrum of the parent star by itself, then observing the spectrum of the starlight travelling through the transiting planet's atmosphere, and then diffing the two results to isolate the spectrum of the planet's atmosphere.

cgriswald 8y ago
It works basically like that. The spectrum of the star will be an absorption spectrum. The star produces a continuous spectrum and then the atoms in its atmosphere absorb specific wavelengths. The light then travels through the planet's atmosphere where other atoms and molecules absorb other wavelengths; the signatures of which are known, telling scientists the makeup of the atmosphere.
- dwaltrip 8y ago
  Ah yeah, that makes sense. Thanks for clarifying!

somebadguy 8y ago

Sure, you’re the victim here.

spacehome 8y ago

Email the authors. There's a 50-50 chance they'll just give you the paper. Though I wouldn't lead with calling BS ...