<p>A lot of you are probably already aware of our <a href="https://astronomy.meta.stackexchange.com/">meta site</a>, but I wanted to take the time to remind you that it only requires 5 reputation points to participate--and this is a critical part of our site. Meta is where we decide what kinds of questions we like in the community, it is where we pick our topic of the week, it is where we can deal with different issues of site growth. Did you know that we can suggest revisions to the help center? These are the types of things that meta allows us to discuss. In fact, this post would be best suited on meta because it is not about the field of astronomy, but about this site. I have posted it here so that you (especially new users) can see it. Maintaining activity on our meta site is important to the long term health of our site. If we don't have activity there, we could wither and ultimately get shut down. I appreciate the recent surge of questions, but I hope that many of you will stick around and participate in making this site work!</p>

<p>For more on Meta, read this <a href="http://blog.stackoverflow.com/2010/07/new-per-site-metas/">blog post</a>. Though, note that the link to meta is now located under the Stack Exchange dropdown on the black top bar.</p>

<p>Also check out <a href="http://blog.stackoverflow.com/2010/07/the-7-essential-meta-questions-of-every-beta/">this blog post</a> on the important questions to ask on Meta.</p>

<p>Thanks for your continued contribution to Astronomy Stack Exchange!</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-31T21:59:37.163Z
Seems rather not like an astronomical question …
chirlu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-01T15:05:25.153Z
This is not a question, period.
pacoverflow
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-01T15:08:30.250Z
OK. - with fill
Wayfaring Stranger
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-01T15:18:08.337Z
So moderators can put any unrelated question anywhere (and put fake tags) without being downvoted?
Matthieu Charbonnier
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-01T15:44:26.290Z
@MatthieuCharbonnier The system does not have an announcement feature that is visible to the front page, aside from the "Featured on Meta" which has not been viewed historically on this site. When this post's usefulness has been expended, it will be locked as "of historical significance".
called2voyage
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-01T15:46:19.030Z
@MatthieuCharbonnier Meta has had more views since this post has been up than it is has had the whole year.
called2voyage
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-01T15:48:05.273Z
@MatthieuCharbonnier The majority of this site's users come from outside of SE, so they are not familiar enough with our system to be aware of the criticality of meta or to know to look for featured posts on the side bar.
called2voyage
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-01T16:53:41.920Z
I think misusing questions in this way sets a bad example, _especially_ for people who “come from outside of SE”.
chirlu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-01T17:00:07.853Z
@chirlu In theory, I agree with you, but short of SE staff adding a moderator announcement system (not going to happen), there is no other way to direct the new users to meta. I would just give it time, but meta participation has been mostly low for three years--and it has been particularly bad this year.
called2voyage
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-01T17:01:51.803Z
@chirlu And again, the "historical significance" lock is going on this shortly, but the post will not be visible once the lock is on.
called2voyage
<fundamental-astronomy>
Please take the time to visit Meta!
called2voyage
# Please take the time to visit Meta!

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-01-16)

A lot of you are probably already aware of our [meta site](https://astronomy.meta.stackexchange.com/), but I wanted to take the time to remind you that it only requires 5 reputation points to participate--and this is a critical part of our site. Meta is where we decide what kinds of questions we like in the community, it is where we pick our topic of the week, it is where we can deal with different issues of site growth. Did you know that we can suggest revisions to the help center? These are the types of things that meta allows us to discuss. In fact, this post would be best suited on meta because it is not about the field of astronomy, but about this site. I have posted it here so that you (especially new users) can see it. Maintaining activity on our meta site is important to the long term health of our site. If we don't have activity there, we could wither and ultimately get shut down. I appreciate the recent surge of questions, but I hope that many of you will stick around and participate in making this site work!

For more on Meta, read this [blog post](http://blog.stackoverflow.com/2010/07/new-per-site-metas/). Though, note that the link to meta is now located under the Stack Exchange dropdown on the black top bar.

Also check out [this blog post](http://blog.stackoverflow.com/2010/07/the-7-essential-meta-questions-of-every-beta/) on the important questions to ask on Meta.

Thanks for your continued contribution to Astronomy Stack Exchange!

**Tags:** fundamental-astronomy

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Seems rather not like an astronomical question …  
> **username_2**: This is not a question, period.  
> **username_3**: OK. - with fill  
> **username_4**: So moderators can put any unrelated question anywhere (and put fake tags) without being downvoted?  
> **username_0**: @username_4 The system does not have an announcement feature that is visible to the front page, aside from the "Featured on Meta" which has not been viewed historically on this site. When this post's usefulness has been expended, it will be locked as "of historical significance".  
> **username_0**: @username_4 Meta has had more views since this post has been up than it is has had the whole year.  
> **username_0**: @username_4 The majority of this site's users come from outside of SE, so they are not familiar enough with our system to be aware of the criticality of meta or to know to look for featured posts on the side bar.  
> **username_1**: I think misusing questions in this way sets a bad example, _especially_ for people who “come from outside of SE”.  
> **username_0**: @username_1 In theory, I agree with you, but short of SE staff adding a moderator announcement system (not going to happen), there is no other way to direct the new users to meta. I would just give it time, but meta participation has been mostly low for three years--and it has been particularly bad this year.  
> **username_0**: @username_1 And again, the "historical significance" lock is going on this shortly, but the post will not be visible once the lock is on.  

---

## 0 answers

