Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!seismo!hao!hplabs!sri-unix!Heiny.Henr@Parc-Maxc.ARPA From: Heiny.Henr@Parc-Maxc.ARPA@sri-unix.UUCP Newsgroups: net.space Subject: Re: names Message-ID: <4574@sri-arpa.UUCP> Date: Fri, 26-Aug-83 10:31:22 EDT Article-I.D.: sri-arpa.4574 Posted: Fri Aug 26 10:31:22 1983 Date-Received: Tue, 30-Aug-83 01:03:17 EDT Lines: 25 From: Chris Heiny Generic terms should be used whenever they will not cause confusion, even though the excruciatingly literal translation or exact definition does not fit. Thus we should refer to what is called geometry on Earth as geometry when we are on the Moon, Venus or Tau Ceti V, rather than calling it selenometry, cytherometry or taucetipentometry. If we discover some situation on Tau Ceti V that distinguishes geometry there from geometry on Earth (perhaps triangles on TC V have 42 sides), then we would be justified in calling it taucetipentometry. As to peri-whatever or apo-whatever: bizarre roots (like '-cythereion') should only be used if it is not understood by most of the audience just what it is that you are orbiting, and only if the root is going to be understood by the audience. Maximum and minimum distance points are features of all orbits, and the existence of them is not dependent on the body orbited. I prefer -gee for planet/asteroid/etc type bodies and -helion for stars and suns. Thus, if it is known that the mission to Tau Ceti V is currently in orbit around Tau Ceti V, then one would say 'perigee' and 'apogee'. If it is not immediately obvious, then you should say 'perigee/apogee of its orbit about Tau Ceti V', or in some other way make it clear that it is orbiting TC V. Terms like apotaucetifive or peritaucetifive should be avoided. Chris