Much Cooler Than Ceiling Cat!

September 10, 2009 6:45 PM

There's ceiling cat, then there is this! Be sure to watch the video. (via.)
posted by cjorgensen (28 comments total)

“We’re considering making the ringtail cat the unofficial mascot of the MEarth project,” said project leader David Charbonneau. “With those big eyes, they’ve certainly got the night vision to be natural-born astronomers!”

Awesome! :)
posted by darkstar at 6:54 PM on September 10, 2009

I'm in ur teleskop, wreckin ur theories.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 6:56 PM on September 10, 2009 [10 favorites]

The thought of an animal walking across a telescope mirror makes me cringe. That could be some pretty expensive damage.
posted by kiltedtaco at 6:58 PM on September 10, 2009

I just watched an episode of World's Toughest Fixes where they removed, cleaned and replaced a 8 metre mirror from one of three telescopes at a South American observatory - I believe a small animal scampering across one of those would likely trash the mirror...

But, that video of the Ringtail Cat popping out of the roof is super cute!! :)
posted by sycophant at 7:05 PM on September 10, 2009

Direct link to twitter, for posterity: Cute animal video alert! Meet Stevie, ring-tailed cat and Smithsonian telescope saboteur.

Astronomers aren't such tough guys after all.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:06 PM on September 10, 2009

Direct link to the youtube video of the cat. HQ version.

And, filthy light thief, I should have linked to the actual twitter update. Thanks.
posted by cjorgensen at 7:08 PM on September 10, 2009

i can only assume the cameraman is masturbating.
posted by Mach5 at 7:19 PM on September 10, 2009 [3 favorites]

God, every video I make has that exact same awkward exchange.

"Oh get a good picture!"
"Actually I'm taking a video."
"Oh okay."
posted by Solon and Thanks at 7:43 PM on September 10, 2009 [1 favorite]

i can only assume the cameraman is masturbating.

If that's what's going on, I don't even want to imagine what the people who take video footage of UFOs are up to.
posted by turgid dahlia at 7:46 PM on September 10, 2009

ALIEN SPACE CATS!!!!!ONE!!!!11!!
posted by maudlin at 7:53 PM on September 10, 2009

If you want a one-word name for these guys, it's "cacomistle."
posted by gubo at 8:01 PM on September 10, 2009

Ceiling Ringtail Cat is watching you observate.
posted by amyms at 8:32 PM on September 10, 2009 [11 favorites]

I CAN HAZ DOMESTICATED?

God, every video I make has that exact same awkward exchange.

That's one of those things I always hear and think this would never have made sense just a few years ago.
posted by dhartung at 8:51 PM on September 10, 2009

One word name? They need a longer name! Something that implies, "Nice six meter mirror - it'd be a shame if something were to happen to it." and "So, where do you keep the tender vitals?"
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 8:52 PM on September 10, 2009

I looked at this immediately after thinking about Hubble, so I was thinking that there were footprints on a space-based telescope. I was confused.

and a little afraid
posted by sonic meat machine at 9:11 PM on September 10, 2009 [1 favorite]

Maybe they're really interested in science? Maybe they see the satellites moving in the sky and think that they're chaseable sky snacks? If any animal would think that, it'd be a raccoon/cat sort.

Three years from now there'll be a mefi post on ringtail cats overtaking the Whipple Observatory basecamp.
posted by Salmonberry at 9:50 PM on September 10, 2009

Do Not Masturbate in This Room. (you will be watched)
posted by ElmerFishpaw at 10:11 PM on September 10, 2009

"So, where do you keep the tender vitals?"

Under my carapace, where they belong.
posted by The Light Fantastic at 11:39 PM on September 10, 2009

I extend a laurel and hearty handshake to our ring-tailed overlords.
posted by darkstar at 12:05 AM on September 11, 2009

"Caco" is old school Mexican slang for thief, from Cacomixtle. There are still wild cacomixtles in some areas of Mexico City. They taste fine when well done.
posted by dirty lies at 12:27 AM on September 11, 2009 [1 favorite]

Astronomers aren't such tough guys after all.
posted by filthy light thief

Eponysterical!

Also, the onomatopoeic term for a cat (ringtail or otherwise) squeezing through a hole like that is "shlooop"--at least around our house.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 2:54 AM on September 11, 2009

If that ringtail cat had been smart, he would have broken into the lab where the scientists are levitating mice.
posted by dortmunder at 5:59 AM on September 11, 2009 [2 favorites]

Oh, sure, It was cute until they noticed that the footprints consistently obscured the ringcat space armada approaching earth.
posted by djrock3k at 7:12 AM on September 11, 2009 [3 favorites]

I saw an episode of Nova ScienceNOW where the host, Neil deGasse Tyson, visited this observatory and saw the paw prints. From what I saw in the show, the mirrors were not damaged, although some of the images may have been a bit degraded.

View the episode >here<.
posted by Man with Lantern at 11:29 AM on September 11, 2009

Other names:
Ringtail cat, miner's cat, coon cat or civet cat.

oh, civet cat... now i know what you're talking about...
don't they use parts of these guys to make perfume?
posted by sexyrobot at 12:49 PM on September 11, 2009

They also use civets in making Kopi Luwak.

Insert some joke here about astronomers and their relationship to their coffee...
posted by darkstar at 1:11 PM on September 11, 2009

If Ceiling Cat is the Jehovah of the lolcat universe, I nominate Telescope Ringtail Cat for the role of Coyote.

(I know there are actual coyotes out there, but they do not seem to be interested in appearing as the lolcat version of themselves.)
posted by localroger at 3:28 PM on September 11, 2009 [1 favorite]

>If Ceiling Cat is the Jehovah of the lolcat universe, I nominate Telescope Ringtail Cat for the role of Coyote.

Don't you mean "OM NOM NOM NOMinate Telescope Ringtail Cat"?

sorry couldn't help myself
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 2:08 PM on September 12, 2009