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From: esj@ihuxl.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: Name of the sun
Message-ID: <494@ihuxl.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 17-Aug-83 18:18:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: ihuxl.494
Posted: Wed Aug 17 18:18:00 1983
Date-Received: Thu, 18-Aug-83 02:21:36 EDT
References: <690@bronze.UUCP>
Organization: BTL Naperville, Il.
Lines: 27


Since I have my bachelor's and graduate work in astronomy/astrophysics,
I feel compelled to relate the rules for using terms like "solar
system", "sun", etc.  The main rule is that there are no firm rules,
at least to the best of my recollection.  For example, when one 
says "stellar system" one can be referring to a binary or larger
system of stars going around a common center of gravity or
one can be talking about a whole galaxy.  The "Sun" is Sol but
to a person standing on say Vega X "the sun" is Vega.  It's
sort of like "South" meaning Dixie and "south" meaning the
the direction.  Take things in context and there won't be
problems.

If somebody wants to talk about planets of Vega, I would use the
term "planetary system" but mainly just because I'm a heliocentric
chauvinist.  The *context* in which I heard "stellar system" used always
implied stars, not planets.

Aside from the astronomer, the only Copernicus I know is a satellite.
Our galaxy has always been known to me as "The Milky Way" or "The
Galaxy" (being chauvinistic again).  Just be thankful it wasn't named
Ford.

Hey UTASTRO! Any comments?

Jeff "Given to demented ravings" Johnson
ihnp4!ihuxl!esj