h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Pulsars - A739343
Author: Fadookie the Froody (SoGB-H,VCoV&S,Coveter of Llamas,KPoAK,HDG,SATS,Thingite,Greeblet,Newbie)-FullName@Space - U192271

There is currently no definative article about pulsars.
I have worked for some time to transform an old paper of mine to fill this gap. I'd be open to any suggestions.

-FTF

Hi Fadookie,

I have to confess that when I read this was an adaptation of an old paper, my heart sank a bit, as these usually make poor entries.

Not in this case - this is fantastic! Clear, concise, informative, and accessible, and I think this would make an excellent addition to the guide!

A few small comments and minor typos:

1. "The discovery of the Crab pulsar also led to greater understanding of the origins of these objects. At the time, it was the fastest pulsar known, and was the only one within nova remnants. This implied that pulsars could have been ?born? in the midst of a nova. It could be that pulsars were actually stars that had imploded."

I'm puzzed by the question marks in this section.

2. The final paragraph begins with "In closure" or something like that. I think "Finally" or "in conclusion" are both better, but this is a very minor point.

3. I *like* the pictures, but I suspect that the edited guide only allows one picture per entry, and this is usually chosen by the sub-editor. Don't be surprised if some of these pictures go.

4. I would suggest deleting the "origins of the paper" section at the end. It's good to know that for peer review purposes, but it's not important in guide entries. I think the list of references is good, though. Keep that!

5. Do you know what happened to the discoverer of pulsars after she left Cambridge?


Best wishes

Otto

Thank you!
The question marks were an error when I originally imported it from microsoft word- i've fixed that.

Should I fix it up and submit it, or create a new entry and submit that?

-FTF

Wait, never mind. I'll just fix this one up.
Thank you again,

-FTF

Fixing it is exactly the right thing to do!

I thought it might be a cut and paste error - I've done that before!

Good luck with this entry - I'm sure you'll get lots more comments on this.

Otto

Why does it say "edited by Fadookie" when I wrote it?
-FTF

it says edited because you currently have the ability to edit the entry.

when their are multiple contributers, only the editor has update rights.

On a different point, I am sure that some of the things that you mention have been given write-ups in the edited guide. why not look some of them up, and link to them?

Fadookie, this entry is excellent. With one or two slight changes, I think it would be ready to go into Peer Review.

First the bad news. I think that if this entry gets picked, the pictures may be removed by the editors. I don't know what exactly the policy is on this, but it seems to happen. Still, the entry is good even without the pictures.

Now for a few suggested changes:

Firstly, you talk about the discovery of LGM-1 and its rapid pulses, but you don't say how rapid? Are we talking seconds or minutes here? I see a reference later on to 4 seconds, but I'm not sure if this is the period of LGM-1. Perhaps you could say what the period is when you are describing Bell's discovery.

Secondly, you talk about the discovery of LGM-1; a few paragraphs later you talk about "these LGMs"; later still you mention LGMs 1-4. You seem to have skipped over the discovery that there was more than one of these things. Perhaps you should mention that some more LGMs were discovered. Were they discovered by Bell and Hewish or by other astronomers?

Thirdly, should you explain the word "scruff" in a footnote? The dictionary definition is "English dialect, something worthless".

Now for some minor grammar points:

more kin to --> more akin to
do not only pick up --> not only pick up
when she came back -- this is confusing as to who exactly you are talking about. Perhaps say "when Bell came back"
because of they all explained --> because they all explained
gotten married --> got married (use British English)

Well done on an excellent article. I'm sure that if these points are addressed this entry will sail through Peer Review.

Thank you, Gnomon!

I haven't made the larger changes, but it did fix it up gramatically. I intend to make the other changes, but don't have the time right now.

The diagram of the binary system adds something to te paper, while the other images are just there to make it visually interesting. Is there any way I can keep that diagram once it is edited?

Thank you again,
-FTF

How are those changes coming, Fadookie?



Regarding the binary star picture, here's my suggestion:

Make whatever major changes you have to the text; leave the pictures in. Remove the entry from WW and submit it to Peer Review. Maybe mention about keeping the pic while you're there - someone might agree with you in the thread, which could only help. When you get picked from Peer Review, the entry will be sent to a SubEditor (someone like myself!). They might or might not get in touch with you, to tell you they have your entry. If you just do an h2g2 search on 'Pulsars' a couple of days after getting picked, you'll find the 'recommended' version of your entry. (That version will also appear on the <./>comingup</.> page.) It will have your name under 'written by' and some subeditor's name under 'edited by'. Drop that sub a note, and let them know that you really want to keep that graphic, and why. They should then leave the picture in (we're usually supposed to take them out), and notify the Italics when they return it to the Towers that there's been a request to keep this one picture, for such-and-such reasons. The italics will make a decision.

Hmmm, that was a more complicated suggestion than I realized it would be... Let me know if it didn't make sense.


GTB

Well, I've risen from the grave and am ready to give this entry a little dusting off. I've fixed up just about evereything except the discovery of LGMs 2-4. I'm working on that now.

-FTF

Fadookie, if you want to keep the picture of the binary star, I'd suggest you put a note to the sub-editor in the entry:

[Note to editors: please let me keep the picture of the binary star in this entry, as it illustrates the points made in the entry exactly]

or something like that.

Okay gnomon! I'll add that and move this to the peer review form! Thanks for your help all!
-FTF