Pluto, the once and future planet

[bayonetbrant]

merging with the other topic that I couldn't find on my phone when I was posting from the museum...

[bayonetbrant]

[mirth]

That's no moon...

[MikeGER]

Yeah, they just did a big telemetry check in. They told us the pictures would be released by NASA tomorrow. It was kind of underwhelming

Groghead's Physicist on duty says:    ;)

to avoid disappointments or unnecessary travels always check the playbook first
(that saved me from seeting the alarmclock for getting up to see first pictures in the night, when only houskeeping data were send)
   
http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/Mission/The-Path-to-Pluto/NH_Obs_Playbook_LORRI-MVIC.pdf

this pdf tells what picture are planed to be recorded and when to get send to Earth
the time stamp in red is the time the picture transmission has completed to arrived at the 70m antenna-dish   

now add 1 (or even up to 2) hours for the scientists to transform/compute the raw-data in pictures ready to be released to the world. 

a (the first, IIRC but with 'airglow' filter) picture with 3.9 km / pixel resolution with full Pluto coverage will arrive at EDT 6:47am
3 pictures with 0.38 km / pixel (the highest resolution) but only parts of Pluto covered will arrive at EDT 12:31pm


at EDT 3pm is the New Horizon Mission News Conference (on NASA TV http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/)  ....i guess they will save the offical release of pictures for that event.

[Toonces]

I don't care what anyone says, I'm old school and Pluto is a planet.  You don't get to just re-write history dammit!   >:(

[Barthheart]

I don't care what anyone says, I'm old school and Pluto is a planet.  You don't get to just re-write history dammit!   >:(

But it's not history it's physics.... well astrophysics.  :)

[Toonces]

Don't go getting all technical on me Bartheart!  I know how you are, you'll try to distract us with technobabble.   

[Barthheart]

 

[mirth]

^Science is amazing.

[Toonces]

^   ;D

[Bison]

I don't care what anyone says, I'm old school and Pluto is a planet.  You don't get to just re-write history dammit!   >:(

But it's not history it's physics.... well astrophysics.  :)

It was a job security move by astronomers and supported by text book publishers to line their already overflowing pockets with more money.  Now get off my grass you crazy scientist!

[Barthheart]

I don't care what anyone says, I'm old school and Pluto is a planet.  You don't get to just re-write history dammit!   >:(

But it's not history it's physics.... well astrophysics.  :)

It was a job security move by astronomers and supported by text book publishers to line their already overflowing pockets with more money.  Now get off my grass you crazy scientist!

Again not a scientist, I'm an engineer who happens to help hold up the torch that throws back the darkness spread by luddites.... 

[Bison]

I don't care what anyone says, I'm old school and Pluto is a planet.  You don't get to just re-write history dammit!   >:(

But it's not history it's physics.... well astrophysics.  :)

It was a job security move by astronomers and supported by text book publishers to line their already overflowing pockets with more money.  Now get off my grass you crazy scientist!

Again not a scientist, I'm an engineer who happens to help hold up the torch that throws back the darkness spread by luddites.... 

So you are just posting your uncredentialed opinions on the size of Pluto's planethood.  Great!  Join the peanut gallery on the side of supporting the demeaning of Pluto's planethood.  I standing with Pluto and his planethood!

[mirth]

[MikeGER]

while we wait for the highres pic to get released ...

  ;D