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Thanks for this. Why NASA doesn't give the conversions in parentheses is beyond me. Surely they know that people around the world use another system, and that

Thanks for this. Why NASA doesn't give the conversions in parentheses is beyond me. Surely they know that people around the world use another system, and that even in the USA, many people consulting the website have an interest in science and therefore know about the SI system. (Or am I wrong on the latter ... are degF, inches, pounds, etc used in science teaching in the USA?)

fctorial 6y ago
Or use kelvins
veilrap 6y ago
In early Science teaching in the USA, say K-8 Fahrenheit is probably the focus. Starting in High school its more of a mix of F/C/K, and once at the college / university level it'll be pretty much exclusively C/K for science. For a general consumption science article targeting an American audience it makes sense that Fahrenheit is used, because American's are used to it and its convenient for human temperatures. (More precision per degree, 0-100 is a common temperature range, mostly human comfortable). Of course clearly including Celcius alongside Fahrenheit would make a lot of sense, I agree its strange that both were not included.
- elliottkember 6y ago
  > targeting an American audience What led you to believe this was targeting an American audience? Do you think kids in other countries don’t know about space, or aren’t interested?
  - stult 6y ago
    I mean, NASA is an American government agency paid for with American tax dollars...
- atleta 6y ago
  FWIW, Celsius is just as convenient for human temperatures (whether we're talking about the temperature of the human body or temperatures that humans can experience). The difference in resolution (about 2x good for F) doesn't really matter. Trust me, we rarely use decimals with C, except for when we measure body temperature (which is in a few C/F range anyway). Other than that it's just remembering the important values (freezing and boiling point of water, normal body temp, and maybe a few others that you can associate with how much dress you'll need if you go outside). It's all about what you're used to, really.
  - neilpanchal 6y ago
    I've switched to Celcius as an American since weather is mostly conveyed to me through the phone now-a-days. I've been using it for 2 years now and I am pretty well calibrated to California temperatures: 14C or lower, wear a jacket, 15-25C slightly chilly to pleasant, 25-35C is warm and hot. It indeed is just about getting used to it. Precision of Farenheit actually gets in the way, usually we don't really care if it is 41F or 42F. It's the same. Wear a jacket. I still can't get used to cm for measurement of everyday objects. Inches are just so easy for me. In terms of weight/volume, I use ml/liters for fluids and g/kg for weight everywhere I can.
perl4ever 6y ago
The conversion between Fahrenheit and Celsius is easy. You just take the numbers 9, 5, and 32 and put them in different combinations until you get the right formula, knowing that 0 = 32 and 100 = 212, and maybe that 37 = 98.6.

fctorial 6y ago

Or use kelvins

veilrap 6y ago

In early Science teaching in the USA, say K-8 Fahrenheit is probably the focus. Starting in High school its more of a mix of F/C/K, and once at the college / university level it'll be pretty much exclusively C/K for science. For a general consumption science article targeting an American audience it makes sense that Fahrenheit is used, because American's are used to it and its convenient for human temperatures. (More precision per degree, 0-100 is a common temperature range, mostly human comfortable). Of course clearly including Celcius alongside Fahrenheit would make a lot of sense, I agree its strange that both were not included.

elliottkember 6y ago
> targeting an American audience What led you to believe this was targeting an American audience? Do you think kids in other countries don’t know about space, or aren’t interested?
- stult 6y ago
  I mean, NASA is an American government agency paid for with American tax dollars...
atleta 6y ago
FWIW, Celsius is just as convenient for human temperatures (whether we're talking about the temperature of the human body or temperatures that humans can experience). The difference in resolution (about 2x good for F) doesn't really matter. Trust me, we rarely use decimals with C, except for when we measure body temperature (which is in a few C/F range anyway). Other than that it's just remembering the important values (freezing and boiling point of water, normal body temp, and maybe a few others that you can associate with how much dress you'll need if you go outside). It's all about what you're used to, really.
- neilpanchal 6y ago
  I've switched to Celcius as an American since weather is mostly conveyed to me through the phone now-a-days. I've been using it for 2 years now and I am pretty well calibrated to California temperatures: 14C or lower, wear a jacket, 15-25C slightly chilly to pleasant, 25-35C is warm and hot. It indeed is just about getting used to it. Precision of Farenheit actually gets in the way, usually we don't really care if it is 41F or 42F. It's the same. Wear a jacket. I still can't get used to cm for measurement of everyday objects. Inches are just so easy for me. In terms of weight/volume, I use ml/liters for fluids and g/kg for weight everywhere I can.

perl4ever 6y ago

The conversion between Fahrenheit and Celsius is easy. You just take the numbers 9, 5, and 32 and put them in different combinations until you get the right formula, knowing that 0 = 32 and 100 = 212, and maybe that 37 = 98.6.