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Observing and Imaging Group
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After last night's superb lecture by Ian Ridpath, we had a chat about my "Sky this Month" talk. Ian thought that one of the stars on one of my star charts was a "hoax star". "A what?", said I... "a hoax star", said Ian.
Quite extraordinary... I'd never heard of such a thing, and I thought that forum users might be interested.
Ian got back to me this morning, after discovering that the star in question was not a hoax after all. However, he did provide me with a link which lists all of these "hoax stars".
Apparently, a user on Wikipedia entered a whole load of made up star names a few years ago. You can see the list here.
Despite the fact that many of these star names are obviously fake (the "Muppet Star", anyone?), some have been picked up by reputable sources and disseminated more widely... including into some planetarium programs!! Fortunately, I don't think that the program that I use has been affected, but I'm absolutely amazed that this can happen.
It really is a warning sign about taking anything on Wikipedia too seriously. Worryingly though, it seems that by editing Wikipedia, you can get a new version of the "truth" into common parlence. One wonders where else this has happened!
Posted : 14/10/2014 4:20 pm
One wonders where else this has happened!
The old A-Z London street atlas. In order to be able to spot copyright violators, the A-Z people slipped in about 100 street names that are either wrong or fictitious. They're all either tiny lanes or cul-de-sacs - no one is suggesting they'd renamed Oxford Street - but if 'Meynell Crescent' shows up on a rival map company's London map, then A-Z know they've been ripped off!
Posted : 14/10/2014 5:29 pm
Topic starter
In order to be able to spot copyright violators, the A-Z people slipped in about 100 street names that are either wrong or fictitious.
Yes, I'd heard that before... didn't know it was as many as a hundred though.
This is a bit different however... I'm not sure you can copyright a star name!?
... but if ‘Meynell Crescent’ shows up on a rival map company’s London map, then A-Z know they’ve been ripped off!
Ahhh, but there is a Meynell Crescent... and a Meynell Road and a Meynell Gardens! I won't bore you with my family history 😉
Posted : 14/10/2014 5:35 pm
This is a bit different however… I’m not sure you can copyright a star name!?
You're right, though the purpose is the same in the sense that both are trying to catch people out. One to spot intellectual property thieves, the other for purely malicious, nefarious purposes.
Ahhh, but there is a Meynell Crescent… and a Meynell Road and a Meynell Gardens
#facepalm
Posted : 14/10/2014 5:43 pm
… My goodness, there appears to be an entire city with my surname… Is this a nationwide mapping issue? 😉
Posted : 15/10/2014 12:13 am
.. Incidentally, I've never visited Chester. Have been meaning to for years and years - I hear it's a nice place. Picturesque.
Posted : 15/10/2014 12:15 am
When I typed 'Sawers' into Google Maps all I got was the headquarters of @51.5286417,-0.1015987,11z/data=!3m2!4b1!5s0x48760fda5a573c5b:0x7edf0a3aaab3a377?hl=en" target="_blank">MI6... 😉
Posted : 15/10/2014 8:14 am
Topic starter
When I typed ‘Sawers’ into Google Maps all I got was the headquarters of MI6
Hmmmm... anything you'd like to tell us "M"?? Or is it "Q"???!
😉
Posted : 15/10/2014 10:03 am
Hmmmm… anything you’d like to tell us “M”?? Or is it “Q”???!
https://www.sis.gov.uk/about-us/the-chief.html
Sadly, I now have to kill you. I'll make it look like an accident.
Posted : 15/10/2014 10:42 am
Topic starter
I’ll make it look like an accident.
Better renew my membership of SPECTRE then 😉
Posted : 15/10/2014 10:49 am
