The 'Satellite' Myth

[chrisyeo]

Well, at least 2 other people have encountered this misconception about non-astro people identifying bright stars or planets as satellites, so I guess this 'satellite myth' does exist!

Now I'm curious if this is just in Singapore or perhaps it exists in other places.. ;)

Cheers,
Chris

[qu1xs1lv3r]

Actually I heard it many times from guys. Guys trying to bluff girls that anything bright in the sky is a satellite. I wonder how many girls were 'conned' by this.

very much exists in singapore! last year was it during mars watch, i was having a peek at mars and these 2 girls stopped to see wat i was looking one..

so girl 1 mused: what are u looking at?
me: there (pointing to mars)
girl 1: what is that?
girl 2: thats a satellite! my friends told me anything really bright is a satellite!
me: trying to keep my composure (whether to laugh or to say how gullible)

but ive never heard such a thing being asked in the philippines.. i mean i went to philippines with my equipment and their question was - can you see stars really close with that? haha even my sister expected my scope to see a star "in detail"..

[Canopus Lim]

Star got details... but unfortunately that details are physics in nature like diffraction rings and airy disc which is nothing really got to do with the star except that it tells you that it is a collimated point source. hee.