Name that telescope and win a prize

MSNBC ^ | Sept. 3, 2001 | Compiled by MSNBC

[Physicist]

Name that telescope and win a prize
Space Shorts: NASA solicits suggestions for SIRTF’s new title

Sept. 3 —  NASA is asking Earthlings to find a friendly name for a new space-based observatory that will allow scientists to search for new planets at the farthest reaches of the universe. The observatory, due to be launched in the summer of 2002, is currently called the Space Infrared Telescope Facility, or SIRTF.

“WE ARE HOPING to tap the creativity of the public to find a name suitable for this important mission that will help enrich our knowledge of the universe,” said Doris Daou, an education and outreach spokeswoman for the mission, which is being managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Members of the public have previously dreamed up the names for the Hubble Space Telescope (named after astronomer Edwin Hubble), the Chandra X-Ray Observatory (named after astrophysicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar) and the Sojourner rover used in the Mars Pathfinder mission (named after Sojourner Truth, a black abolitionist and advocate of women’s rights).

The SIRTF will allow scientists to study objects by looking for the heat they radiate in the infrared wavelength and will search for dusty discs around other stars where planets might be forming.

The deadline for nominations is Dec. 20 and must be accompanied by a short essay explaining the reasons behind the suggested name. If the name of a person is proposed, the person must be deceased.

The grand-prize winner will be flown to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center for the telescope’s launch. More details are available via the contest’s Web site.

[Hatteras]

Come to think of it, maybe they could train this thing on Gary. There's no telling what they might find...

[BikerNYC]

The Sagan Scope

[gjenkins]

How about the 'Phalliscope'? As in "Hey is that a telescope in your orbit or are you just happy to see me?"

[js1138]

Fred Hoyle. Author of The Black Cloud, coiner of the phrase "Big Bang" and all-around pain-in-the-a$$. Perhaps they'll leave the cable ties on the antenna again.

[Psycho_Bunny]

"The Bunny Thump"

"Magic Bunny Ears"

"Carrot Colossus"

”The Big Peeper”

”Whoa”

”The I-See-What-Yer-Doin’”

[general_re]

How about "Deep Wallet Nine"? Or maybe "Deep Wallet Mine" ;)

On the other hand, my brother (the "artist") is (again) looking for work, and he can do some pretty fabulous things with an airbrush. I don't suppose NASA is looking for a subcontractor to do a nice flame-job on the front end or maybe some pinstriping, hmmm?

Seriously, though, how about "Kepler"?

[Teacher317]

Space Infrared Telescope Facility, or SIRTF.

Why not Facility for the InfraRed Space Telescope, or FIRST?

[Phantom Lord]

How about Hubble without the glasses

[Phantom Lord]

How about The Frink, or Glavin

[Teacher317]

That'll teach me to reply before reading the whole thread.

[Phantom Lord]

CompuGlobalHyperMegaScope

[AndrewC]

Yeah, I was partial to "Ol' Red Eye", but I think that "Visine" gets the red out.

[sonofagun]

"Has anything been named after Isaac Newton?"

I have a "Newtonian" telescope at home!

[onedoug]

Thanks for the flag, and for encouraging your own competition. I'm waxing exploratory....

[Physicist]

Two more names relevant to the formation of stellar systems: Bart Bok and James Jeans.

[Old Professer]

FIRST THINGS SIRFT

[SolitaryMan]

The Sagan Scope

YUK! :o)

[Old Professer]

How about "The Alpha Project?"

[anymouse]

Doh! How could I make that typo. May "the Gipper" forgive my error. :)

[BikerNYC]

awwww.....

How 'bout the Saganscope? (Is one word any better?)