Elizabeth Barrette (ysabetwordsmith) wrote,
Elizabeth Barrette
ysabetwordsmith
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Star Mapping (2 of 4)

Tags: networking, science, science fiction, space exploration
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  • 5 comments
siliconshaman

siliconshaman

September 30 2010, 11:10:05 UTC 10 years ago

All of which shows why 2D maps are a poor way of representing 3D positions.

ysabetwordsmith

Well...

ysabetwordsmith

September 30 2010, 18:26:47 UTC 10 years ago

Often, though not always. The author has done an excellent job of describing good and bad examples, and how to compensate. (I've been wheedling for a book, having followed the individual star posts for some time.) So it varies a bit.

It suddenly occurs to me that this is another perk possible for ebooks or weblit: proper 3D star charts of science fiction settings. For some folks that would be awesomely useful. Frex, the starmaps in the Honor Harrington series are only so-so (mostly accurate, but with some distortions bad enough to require footnotes) and Baen already has those books in e-format. For a series that popular, it would be worth working up a proper map.
msstacy13

msstacy13

September 30 2010, 12:36:47 UTC 10 years ago

I feel like a dullard, because this situation has never come up in my life.

But both Mutiny on the Bounty
and the Hornblower books have scenes about spherical geometry,
and how difficult it can be for some of us to grasp
the very important difference between arcs and lines.
ysabetwordsmith

Yes...

ysabetwordsmith

September 30 2010, 18:12:08 UTC 10 years ago

I think most humans find it difficult or impossible to think in three dimensions. Only a few seem to do it naturally, although plenty of people can learn it if they put in the effort.
msstacy13

Re: Yes...

msstacy13

September 30 2010, 18:22:32 UTC 10 years ago

Unless you're sailing the open seas without a GPS
or navigating interstellar travel,
it's not a skillset you'll be needing very often.