Are Messier and Herschel and Hubble "lousy" astronomers because they didn't
write computer software to display the objects that they discovered?
The skill required to correct the catalogs is entirely different from the
skill required to write the computer code to display the stars in a way that
is useful to astronomers. We don't require astronomers to be computer
programmers. Why should we require computer programmers to be astronomers?
I suggest giving the Bisque Brothers credit for the contribution that they
did make, rather than criticizing them for bad data in catalogs that other
people compiled.
Ideally the catalogs would be available to everyone in a non-proprietary
format, and when an updated version becomes available, all programs would be
able to use it.
Regards, Peter McKone
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---->From: Jeffrey D. Gortatowsky (indanapt@No-Spam) >Date: Thu Apr 03 2003 - 11:01:10 MST
>> I've found the databases in "The Sky" and other commercial >> software to have numerous errors. I don't rely on them for >> locating or identifying galaxies,
>Two things... both controversial...
>1) Some software vendors try to update their catalogs (like Chris Marriot >and Emil ????) and we ought support those people with our $$$. If people >would stop using garbage like _The_Sky_ then the brothers 'B' might get the >idea that perhaps they ought try to update their catalogs now and then. Just >my opinion of course and obviously I deleted _The_Sky_ off my laptop long >ago. So I sort of practice what I preach.