I need research information but don't know where to look.

The Gorn · Dec 23, 2005

This is The Gorn. I am an aspiring author working on my first book. I was trying to do some research but could not figure out where to look. I'm looking for information about outer space. Specificly, I'm looking for the names of various stars and galaxies and thier respective distances from Earth in lightyears. I tried the NASA web site. I clicked several links and was directed to numerous different pages. Every page I looked at had the same message in one place or another; "We do not provide research information."

So I sent an e-mail to NASA asking where to look for research information. That was about a year ago and I still haven't heard back from them. Guess they ignored me.

So, now I am asking anyone who reads this to post a reply or send me a PM letting me know where to look for the information I'm after.

A special note to NASA: Congress has been trying to shut you down for decades. Public opinion is what has kept you afloat. Making the public dissatisfied with you is not a good idea.

KTC · Dec 23, 2005

Try this:

http://www.neave.com/lab/planetarium/

This is not the site I was thinking of. Will try to find it. There's one where you can point on the star and it tells all the vital info you are looking for. Just can't remember what its name is?

KTC · Dec 23, 2005

Well, I cannot locate the site. Sorry. Hopefully somebody else will know of it. It's much like the one I linked above, but when you are touring you can click on the planets/stars and you will get detailed statistics about them. Good luck!

Aconite · Dec 23, 2005

The Gorn said:
Specificly, I'm looking for the names of various stars and galaxies and thier respective distances from Earth in lightyears.

Try some good books on astronomy. They should have what you're looking for.

So I sent an e-mail to NASA asking where to look for research information. That was about a year ago and I still haven't heard back from them.

NASA's job isn't answering those types of e-mails. They clearly state they don't do other people's research, and that includes looking for sources of information. I think you're being unjustly hard on NASA.

There's a whole board here on AW for people to ask reseach questions: Story Research. You might get more answers if you posted there. Good luck!

scribbler1382 · Dec 23, 2005

List of Galaxies

NASA Extragalactic Database

Atlas of the Universe

fyi, it took about 30 seconds to find these.

Birol · Dec 23, 2005

I moved this thread to Story Research in hopes one of our research gurus will be able to assist with this request.

Maryn · Dec 23, 2005

I don't mean to be nasty, but research involves getting up off one's butt and doing some work. You don't email NASA for help, wait a year, then get nasty because they failed to help you--when every page of their site says they won't.

Your profile mentions college. I bet the college has a library, which will have a catalogue system and trained librarians, either of which can assist you in finding books on astronomy. The college also probably has professors and teaching assistants who teach astronomy.

The fact that a site which specifically said they don't help with research didn't help direct your search is, ah, oh hell, I'm going to go ahead and say it, evidence that your research skills and your work ethic need a lot of improvement. I mean, geez, you didn't even bother to google it!

Maryn, shaking her head but knowing The Gorn is able to do better

batgirl · Dec 23, 2005

Have you tried your local public library? If your college library has more advanced texts than beginner's texts, you might try the youth/children's section in the public library for beginning astronomy texts. Kid's science books make a great simple introduction to a subject and often have the fun stats like relative distances.
In Uncle Jim's writing thread, he suggests getting (I think) three kid's books on a subject from the library as a starter set for researching a country or other topic.

I'm fondly remember a plate in the Edwardian-era Book of Knowledge, showing a train chugging off into the sky, with notes on the length of track that would be required to reach the moon, Mars, etc. Always wondered if some Japanese animators saw that when they came up with Galaxy Express?
-Barbara (who would rather research than write, usually)

The Gorn · Dec 30, 2005

Thanks for the insults.

To those who have posted here suggesting that I am being lazy or "have a poor work ethic" you can keep your helpful information.

I started this thread asking for a little help from experienced writers who already know where to look. I didn't start this thread to be insulted over and over. To those who want to insult me, I suggest to them that they find something more productive to do with their time...plucking a chicken perhaps.

Now, to those who have posted here and provided information without throwing in an insult in on top of it, I thank you.

Aconite · Dec 30, 2005

The Gorn, you might do well to consider what those people said. It is your responsibility to do at least some basic research before you ask someone else to spend their time helping you out. If you don't, you're quickly going to run through the goodwill and tolerance of the people you're asking for favors.

Maryn · Dec 30, 2005

The Gorn, after I received your private message complaining about the tone of my reply, I conducted an experiment. I emailed four college students I know (all home for the semester break) with your exact need for information--"I'm looking for the names of various stars and galaxies and thier respective distances from Earth in lightyears"--and asked them to time how long it took to find the information online.

All reported results in under ten minutes. Once produced a list in 41 seconds. [Edit to add: a fifth, the sibling of one I asked, did it in 54 seconds.]

So if you're able to be online to ask others to find this information for you, you're able to find it for yourself. It's not deeply hidden or highly esoteric but readily available. My own personal library has such information in multiple sources, from encyclopedias to children's books to almanacs.

In general, it's wise to ask others for research assistance only when you've exhausted your own resources. I'm sorry to learn that your circumstances make this difficult, but it doesn't relieve you of the responsibility.

You will find many writers here who face extremely challenging circumstances. If you were to start a new thread asking for help and guidance in doing your own research, I imagine the response would be generous. Most people here are--even if you don't count me among them.

Maryn, whose intent was neither to insult nor hurt

Birol · Dec 30, 2005

What I'm hearing is that Gorn privately expressed his dissatisfaction to a member for their help before making his snide post here?

Gorn, when I first moved this thread from Novels or Freelancing (can't recall which) to Research, I had only skimmed your post. When I saw some of the responses, I went back and read it properly and, I had to agree with Maryn and Aconite. You should not be upset with NASA for not responding when they have told you they wouldn't. The type of information you are looking is very basic and, due to the number of stargazers out there, should be readily available and I, too, am wondering what other research you have attempted to find this information during the year you have been waiting for NASA to respond after ignoring their requests not to contact them?

If you had never considered the stars before, if you were flummoxed about where to begin, if you had tried google and for some reason your search request returned nothing, if you were having trouble stepping outside the box, that would be one thing, but from your post, it appears you just went to NASA, saw the disclaimers about research assistance, decided they did not pertain to you (will you do the same with writer's guidelines?), e-mailed them anyway, and waited a year, which is a really long time.

The Gorn · Dec 31, 2005

Please....give me a little credit here.

The title of this thread is "I need research information but don't know where to look." Did the words "but don't know where to look" completely escape everyones attention? If you were asking someone where to find something and they said "If you look right over there, you'll find what you want. Try looking a little harder before you ask me again." of if they said, "You'll find it right there in front of you. Open your eyes, stupid." Would statements like that offend you? Well, that's exactly how I'm feeling. And as for my "snide remarks", if I feel I have been offended; I'll d***well say so. And if that bothers someone, tough. And I have not been waiting a year for NASA to reply to that e-mail. I saw the messages that they didn't provide research information and I didn't ask for research information. I just told them what I was looking for and asked if they could tell me where to look. As in, a web site they might know of or a page on their own site that I may have overlooked. Basically, I just asked for directions and they ignored me. And I have been to my local library and got nowhere. I've run searches on the net and still came up empty. That was probably because I was using the wrong search words. So I asked here for just a little help and what did I get? Doubts cast on my work ethic. Suggestions that I get off of my butt. Informed that someone found what I have been looking for in only a few seconds. All I did here was ask for a little help. If that was too much to ask, then fine. Maybe I'll just forget about being an author. It's only my life long dream. But what good is a dream if you're just going to get slugged in the mouth every time you try to make it happen?

Mike Coombes · Dec 31, 2005

Hello Gorn.

Please, change your name to gormless.

You emailed Nasa and waited a year for a reply, but never tried google, or, uh, opening a book or something?

Your signature line seems quite funny when read in conjunction with your question.

TwentyFour · Dec 31, 2005

Maryn · Dec 31, 2005

Here's How

It sounds to me as if your efforts so far have been fruitless. Maybe you're not confident about best utilizing the resources at hand? Here's how to get more oomph out of each effort.

The information you need is surely in your public library, even if it's small. Many use the cheapest web-based search system, which can stump the user who wants something specific, like you do. However, there are trained librarians whose job it is to assist you, paid for with public taxes. Use them. Tell them exactly what you're trying to find out, and ask them to show you how they are finding the information so that you may do it yourself next time a question arises. Most library professionals are happy to narrate their search to someone who wants to learn.

To search online, Google (at google.com) is the favorite but Yahoo search (at their home page, yahoo.com) is also good. Using either one, type in the nouns of what you're looking for. In your example, type in planet galaxy distance earth "light year" (with quotes around "light year" to keep it together as a search term). At google you'll get 82,600 results, but the ones on the first page contain what you need.

Maryn, who'd extend a peace pipe if she hadn't quit smoking in 2000 (got a Marlboro?)

Birol · Dec 31, 2005

Everyone needs to take a step back. I'm about one post from closing this thread.

September skies · Dec 31, 2005

I can see both sides of this - BUT - I also see that Gorn is a new member and he DID mention that he had already looked at several sites, where he was then led to site after site. I honestly don't think he emailed NASA then sat around for a year checking his email to see if they would respond. I think he just mentioned that to indicate that it had been a year. More than likely, he just went on with his story or other writings and then when he found this site, (come on guys, give him a break, he's only had a few posts) he thought, "oh..I'll ask them"

He wasn't asking for us to hand him the info on a silver platter. He just asked - what I feel -- was a simple question. Maybe he's not as computer savy as the rest of you - I don't know if that's the case.

This thread made me a little sad and makes me think that I better think several times before asking anything. (even when I can't find it online)

TwentyFour · Dec 31, 2005

Mike Coombes · Dec 31, 2005

I'll be nice when he changes his sig line to

Anything is possible. You need only have someone else figure out how to do it.

The Gorn · Jan 1, 2006

September skies said:
I can see both sides of this - BUT - I also see that Gorn is a new member and he DID mention that he had already looked at several sites, where he was then led to site after site. I honestly don't think he emailed NASA then sat around for a year checking his email to see if they would respond. I think he just mentioned that to indicate that it had been a year. More than likely, he just went on with his story or other writings and then when he found this site, (come on guys, give him a break, he's only had a few posts) he thought, "oh..I'll ask them"

He wasn't asking for us to hand him the info on a silver platter. He just asked - what I feel -- was a simple question. Maybe he's not as computer savy as the rest of you - I don't know if that's the case.

This thread made me a little sad and makes me think that I better think several times before asking anything. (even when I can't find it online)

I couldn't have said it better.

The Gorn · Jan 1, 2006

Mike Coombes said:
I'll be nice when he changes his sig line to

Anything is possible. You need only have someone else figure out how to do it.

I take it then, you have never ever in your entire life asked anyone for help with anything. You must be the most talented person on Earth if you can do anything without asking for help ever. Anything is possible. You need only figure out how to do it. But when you try everything you can think of and none of what you have tried has worked and you've got no idea what to try next, that's when you ask for help. And that's all I did here. If Man were ment to figure out everything for himself, then he wouldn't have the ability to call upon other more experienced people for advice.

The Gorn · Jan 1, 2006

Mike Coombes said:
Hello Gorn.

Please, change your name to gormless.

You emailed Nasa and waited a year for a reply, but never tried google, or, uh, opening a book or something?

Your signature line seems quite funny when read in conjunction with your question.

I DIDN'T WAIT A YEAR FOR NASA TO REPLY! I ONLY SAID IT WAS A YEAR AGO THAT I SENT THE E-MAIL TO THEM!

Please pardon the yelling but no one seems to have gotten that part yet. I don't typically use google. I prefer yahoo. But given some of the replies I've read, I'll give google a try. Also, I have been looking for books but haven't found one that has the information I want.

Birol · Jan 1, 2006

I told everyone in this thread to take a deep breath and step back for a moment. Gorn and Mike, that included both of you.

The topic on the table is where to go to find research about galaxy and constellation names. If you have any information about that, please continue to post. If not... The bickering ends now.

The Gorn · Jan 2, 2006

Taking a deep breath and getting a grip.

This is The Gorn. I would like to apologize for my behavior. It seems to me now that my remarks were too generalized and may have looked like I was lashing out at everyone. I was not. I do feel I was justified in getting upset because all I did was ask for some help and though I have received the help I requested I have also received twice as much criticizim. I had no expectation at all of being criticized so badly just for asking for some help. I felt I was being blind-sided and that is what set me off. I'm sure any of you would blow up too if you felt blind-sided.
Now, I've made one attempt to defuse the situation but it seems that somehow I only fueled it. And gasoline is just too expensive these days to waste it like that.(lol) Now I would just like to offer an olive branch here. I just felt like I was being ganged up on and that triggered my defenses. I did not consider how my comments would make others feel and that was wrong. I've just been ganged up on so many times in my life that when I just think it is happening again, I react in a nano-second. Sometimes that is the best way to react. Sometimes it is not. I guess this was a case where it was not the best way to react. To those who have posted here before, I invite you to continue to do so with any helpful advice you may have. And if you have not yet posted here and are reading this now, I extend to you the same invitation. All I ask in return is that I not be criticized any further. Please, no more criticizum. That's all I ask.

I need research information but don't know where to look.

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