Inhabitants of RX J1242-11 Galaxy Devastated By Earth Astronomers’ Reaction

19th February 2004

The inhabitants of the RX J1242-11 Galaxy have been left distraught on hearing NASA’s reaction to the devastating collision between one of their stars and the black hole at the centre of the galaxy.

“I am simply appalled,” Alien Inhabitant Qx’TPng retorted, “We lose an entire solar system full of people and all the Earth scientists can say is how delighted they are that their theories on black holes have been proved correct. They also commented on how spectacular it was when it happened – I don’t think that was at all tactful. We lost 9 billion people in that impact.”

Due to the laws of physics, the impact actually took place 700 million years ago as the galaxy RX J1242-11 is 700 million years away and it took the light that long to reach Earth. Earth astronomers felt given the fact that the collision took place so long ago it was all right for them to ignore the consequences of the collision.

However Qx’TPng disputes this claim: “How absurd. You still mourn the loss of the Titanic nearly 100 years on – and you only lost a handful of people and a lump of iron. We lost 3 civilisations, 400,000 species of animals and the best record store this side of Galaxy XY K1930-12 – I think we are justified to go on mourning this event until the next Big Bang.

“We genuinely liked your planet until this happened, we thought that when you developed the Intergalactic Petroleum Engine we might be able to be allies. Fat chance of that now.

“One thing’s for certain now,” Qx’TPng added, “I won’t be watching the September 11th TV Broadcasts when they arrive in 700 million years.”