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The centimeter is commonly used internationally in geology and
astronomy. For example, I've seen many photographs of meteorites
(originating outside the US) in which centimeter cubes were placed next to the
samples to indicate the size. Also, the average densities of planets and
asteroids are compared to that of water, in terms of grams per cubic
centimeter. That's where the old saying about Saturn (whose average
density is less than that of water) comes from: "If you could find a body of
water large enough, Saturn would float." In addition, in radio astronomy
the shorter radio wavelengths are expressed in centimeters (for example, the
famous 21.6 cm "water hole" frequency often used in radio searches for signals
from other civilizations). -- Jason
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, March 25, 2004 9:02
AM
Subject: [USMA:29287] Re: Mars
Dear
Euric,
I am somewhat saddened by this image from the 'Opportunity
Rover'.
As you may know, I have observed in Australia, in many
companies and industries, that those who choose centimetres as their small
unit also choose (mostly inadvertently) the slowest possible metrication path,
whereas those who choose millimetres as their small unit usually complete
metrication smoothly and rapidly.
To my mind, NASA's choice of
centimetres for this image suggests that they have also chosen (again perhaps
inadvertently) to delay their metrication by many, many
years.
Cheers,
Pat Naughtin LCAMS
Geelong, Australia
--
on 25/3/04 11:39 AM, Chimpsarecute at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
wrote:
![]()
NASA's Opportunity rover sent back this magnified
view of a portion of a Martian rock called "Upper Dells," showing fine
layers that are truncated, discordant and at angles to each other. Black and
blue lines have been added to the picture, tracing cross-lamination that
indicates the sediments forming the rock were laid down in flowing
water.
A picture similar to this
appeared in the local newspaper this morning. The scale was a little
different then the one shown, but it had a scale with 2 cm next to the scale
for all to see.
Euric
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