NASA doing a flyby right now. Odds on finding aliens?
http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/14/us/nasa-new-horizons-pluto-flyby/index.html (http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/14/us/nasa-new-horizons-pluto-flyby/index.html)
Can't wait to see the pictures they send back!
If you were an alien, would you live on Pluto??!! Me neither!
Apparently aliens like mountainous areas, like the Andes or Switzerland. They also seem to like Texas.
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cosmicparadigm.com%2Fimages%2FMeierPic.jpg&hash=ea7ccf10b4c9a777a508e03803579c7051c12f83)
I would think that they'd prefer coastal California. Nice weather, hot babes.
Quote from: Centurion40 on July 14, 2015, 07:41:10 AM
...
I would think that they'd prefer coastal California. Nice weather, hot babes.
Yeah but they seem to like cows too .... so maybe they are 4-legged.... :crazy2:
Oh... and Pluto is still not a planet. ;)
It has a separate orbit around the sun; it will always be a planet to me.
Quote from: Centurion40 on July 14, 2015, 07:41:10 AMIf you were an alien, would you live on Pluto??!! Me neither!
Hey now, that was not only the site of the underwater base from which the Gamilons launched their radioactive planet bombs to steadily wreck the Earth, but humanity later had an (overrun) outpost of Space Marines there as well!
"Through all the fi-re and the smoke / we will never give up hope!
"If we can win, then the Earth will survive! We'll keep peace alive!
"With our! Star! Blazers!!"
Quote from: Barthheart on July 14, 2015, 07:50:14 AM
Oh... and Pluto is still not a planet. ;)
Hey! You're bringing me down with all this Pluto h8.
they're doing a live-stream of the fly-by at the science museum here. I'm taking the kids when we pick up Bayonette from pre-school this evening
http://naturalsciences.org/programs-events/its-pluto-time
At the science museum with Bayonet Jr, waiting for images from Pluto to come in. About 600 other people here, too.
NERDS!!!!
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic.fjcdn.com%2Fpictures%2FMeh%2Bi%2Bdont%2Bactually%2Bhate%2Bmidgets%2Bby%2Bthe%2Bway_262a8f_3933522.jpg&hash=8ad1197c346175a46e304666e51c0c176d2be76d)
Hope your not in a rush. With a transmission rate of 1 kb/s it's going to take a while to receive even a few images. ETA of something like 16 months to download all data from the flyby.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Horizons#Telecommunications_and_data_handling
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
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!
Man this is probably the best thing that humanity has going for it right now.
We have the Ghostbusters reboot.
And "The Man From U.N.C.L.E."
I still have hope for humanity.
merging with the other topic that I couldn't find on my phone when I was posting from the museum...
(https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/11707543_10153510725272265_9097203344462555825_n.jpg?oh=c1730e6e0295da566359f5eb04c26191&oe=56514C94)
That's no moon...
Quote from: bayonetbrant on July 14, 2015, 08:46:28 PM
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.
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! >:(
Quote from: Toonces on July 15, 2015, 07:13:54 AM
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. :)
Don't go getting all technical on me Bartheart! I know how you are, you'll try to distract us with technobabble. :knuppel2:
:coolsmiley:
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimgs.xkcd.com%2Fcomics%2Fpluto.png&hash=0c9fef27d063cdc6a3fb1847bd5e2ac64e748937)
^Science is amazing.
^ ;D
Quote from: Barthheart on July 15, 2015, 07:17:36 AM
Quote from: Toonces on July 15, 2015, 07:13:54 AM
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!
Quote from: Bison on July 15, 2015, 09:03:24 AM
Quote from: Barthheart on July 15, 2015, 07:17:36 AM
Quote from: Toonces on July 15, 2015, 07:13:54 AM
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.... :coolsmiley:
Quote from: Barthheart on July 15, 2015, 09:43:23 AM
Quote from: Bison on July 15, 2015, 09:03:24 AM
Quote from: Barthheart on July 15, 2015, 07:17:36 AM
Quote from: Toonces on July 15, 2015, 07:13:54 AM
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.... :coolsmiley:
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!
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fsnowbrains.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F04%2Fpluto.zip_thumbnail3.jpg5873b598-b581-4bdb-b8b0-bd3d03ee601bLarger.jpg&hash=128e42e5109b4bc5e38aac98bf9c453e5acdfda1)
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcopperfinger.typepad.com%2F.a%2F6a00e39827376b8833014e86afdd3d970d-pi&hash=84a3c1ddb599ae0140c8fdce321b20a9c7814228)
while we wait for the highres pic to get released ...
;D
O0
Quote from: mirth on July 15, 2015, 12:25:51 PM
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcopperfinger.typepad.com%2F.a%2F6a00e39827376b8833014e86afdd3d970d-pi&hash=84a3c1ddb599ae0140c8fdce321b20a9c7814228)
Epic.
I enjoy a good episode of Psyche every now and again.
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasa.gov%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fthumbnails%2Fimage%2Fnh-plutosurface.png&hash=75d383d5e502410dd569dcc29de886849c9465bc)
looks like an interesting wargaming map too :)
i almost see a hex grid overlay of different scales 8) (some borderlines of surface features have a typical shape)
and even as a continus map it wold work with its diversity .... well picture is about 400 km wide (?) (1040 pixel of 0.38km if this is raw data and not a suppixeld one, also its a projection of a bend surface of course) but according to self-similarity in Fractal geometry it can be a template for a 40 km or 4 km wide map ...on some icy dwarf moon "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away....", or in the year 40k somewhere
That's a Total Annihilation or Dawn of War map right there! O0
(https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/11752513_10152916372295443_281360118248934134_n.jpg?oh=fd584504a0040cf2346b4cf56754387b&oe=56574DF3)
Quote from: Barthheart on July 21, 2015, 08:15:48 AM
(https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/11752513_10152916372295443_281360118248934134_n.jpg?oh=fd584504a0040cf2346b4cf56754387b&oe=56574DF3)
LOL
Dat funny :))
Quote from: JasonPratt on July 16, 2015, 01:25:59 PM
That's a Total Annihilation or Dawn of War map right there! O0
LOL ;D - I was just thinking that! O0
QuoteNew Horizons has provided scientists with surprise after surprise, and among the latest is that Pluto has a tail.
Researchers were tipped off to its existence by the instrument called SWAP, which stands for Solar Wind Around Pluto. The analytic tool picked up readings showing a depression filled with nitrogen ions was lagging behind Pluto, forming a plasma tail. It's unknown at this time exactly what its structure is like or how far it extends. The cause of it is largely attributed to the vulnerabilities Pluto's atmosphere faces due to the planet being so small.
source: http://www.aol.com/article/2015/07/21/new-horizons-flyby-reveals-pluto-has-a-tail/21211810/?icid=maing-grid7|bon1-c|dl13|sec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D-1444106825?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000058&
Quote from: LongBlade on July 22, 2015, 01:39:18 PM
QuoteNew Horizons has provided scientists with surprise after surprise, and among the latest is that Pluto has a tail.
Researchers were tipped off to its existence by the instrument called SWAP, which stands for Solar Wind Around Pluto. The analytic tool picked up readings showing a depression filled with nitrogen ions was lagging behind Pluto, forming a plasma tail. It's unknown at this time exactly what its structure is like or how far it extends. The cause of it is largely attributed to the vulnerabilities Pluto's atmosphere faces due to the planet being so small.
source: http://www.aol.com/article/2015/07/21/new-horizons-flyby-reveals-pluto-has-a-tail/21211810/?icid=maing-grid7|bon1-c|dl13|sec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D-1444106825?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000058&
Still not a planet.... ;)
Quote from: LongBlade on July 22, 2015, 01:39:18 PM
QuoteNew Horizons has provided scientists with surprise after surprise, and among the latest is that Pluto has a tail.
....to the planet being so small.
...its still a
dwarf -planet
consider KBO "Pluto" was not know before 85 years ago and discoverer Clyde William Tombaugh did not had the means to get more information, even so the strange tilted orbit around the sun gave it away somehow, that its doubtfull to be sorted into the same class of known objects ...but as long as you have only one item of a new class its just human to 'press it' into an existing class as an ex-centric (pun intended*) member until you find more of the new ones
young kids, fools, dumb as they come journalists and of course the nostalgic 'Pluto nerds' can still call it shortened a planet
...and just leave out the prefix 'dwarf'.
From today data its clearly a KBO (Kuiper belt object)
we didn't 'lost' a planet, we gained instead about 5 dwarf-planets and thousend of KBO's ...and not start speaking about whats all part of the Oort cloud in our solar system
btw: is Pluto mentioned in the bible ? ...No?
then it didn't exits at all anyway for a growing number of "
Creationists" ;)
...its just a pinhole in a moving sphere of several and you see the fire of hell or shine of heaven shine through it
As a Christian who keeps an interested (if sometimes exasperated) eye on the "growing" (?) number of Creationists (not sure if their numbers are growing significantly), I've never once seen them hold any of those beliefs (I mean since modern times -- the best science of the pre-19th century doesn't count against people in that time). So if any do, and those numbers are somehow growing, they can't be significantly growing at all.
Also I reiterate from upthread: dwarf-planet, still a planet. O0
Planet.
And more planets to us! 8)
(Though I can understand Ceres not counting, as it's part of a clear debris belt. But it might count as a moon of a debris belt!)
Btw, did any of those recent photos manage to get shots of Charon? I can understand missing out on it due to having to make a choice (a significantly long time in advance with limited fuel for maneuvering) what to clearly photograph, but I'm certainly curious for a similar study on it someday. A dual-planet would be nicely unique! -- though I suppose they'd have to be orbiting each other, not one orbiting the other, and I've never heard that Charon and Pluto orbit each other.
Imagine the ballsy project of intentionally aiming at Charon (maybe passing by other objects intentionally along the way) for an orbital flyby with a return plot to the Earth! We've never had a probe come back from outside Earth's gravity well before, right? Even from our lunar orbit?
Pic of Charon from July 14,2015
(https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/nh-charon-inset.jpg)
QuoteThis new image of an area on Pluto's largest moon Charon has a captivating feature—a depression with a peak in the middle, shown here in the upper left corner of the inset.
The image shows an area approximately 240 miles (390 kilometers) from top to bottom, including few visible craters. "The most intriguing feature is a large mountain sitting in a moat," said Jeff Moore with NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, who leads New Horizons' Geology, Geophysics and Imaging team. "This is a feature that has geologists stunned and stumped."
This image gives a preview of what the surface of this large moon will look like in future close-ups from NASA's New Horizons spacecraft. This image is heavily compressed; sharper versions are anticipated when the full-fidelity data from New Horizons' Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) are returned to Earth.
The rectangle superimposed on the global view of Charon shows the approximate location of this close-up view.
The image was taken at approximately 6:30 a.m. EDT (10:30 UTC) on July 14, 2015, about 1.5 hours before closest approach to Pluto, from a range of 49,000 miles (79,000 kilometers).
Image Credit: NASA-JHUAPL-SwRI
https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/new-horizons-close-up-of-charon-s-mountain-in-a-moat
(https://33.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mc90ipCMAk1rub0tzo1_500.gif)
Oh, yay, Charon, too! :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
Very amusing to see this i09 article denying it's a planet but arguing it's something cooler than a planet: the largest (known) dwarf planet, and the first known binary planet (with Charon). Which yay! -- but a binary planet is still a planet, as is a dwarf planet. ;)
http://space.io9.com/pluto-is-something-way-more-awesome-than-a-mere-planet-1719807379
That being said, I suppose if it hasn't yet cleared out or mooned material in close orbital proximity, it fails that criteria; and there are other significantly sized materials trailing not far ahead and behind it on the same orbital plane.
Planet.
QuoteOn Aug. 24, 2006, nine years ago today, the International Astronomical Union demoted Pluto from a planet to a dwarf planet — a move that sparked protests and split the space-science community.
Some in the community, including leading Pluto researchers, are still upset at the decision.
"It's bulls—,"Alan Stern, the lead scientist behind NASA's New Horizons mission to Pluto, told Tech Insider in July (and said we could quote him on that).
The problem, Stern said, is that the reclassification largely stemmed from the opinions of astronomers, not planetary scientists. His beef here is that astronomers study a large variety of celestial objects and cosmic phenomena, while planetary scientists focus solely on planets, moons, and planetary systems.
"Why would you listen to an astronomer about a planet?" Stern said.
He compared it to going to a podiatrist for brain surgery.
"Even though they're both doctors, they have different expertise," Stern said. "You really should listen to planetary scientists that know something about this subject. When we look at an object like Pluto, we don't know what else to call it."
That's because Pluto meets the main criteria for planethood: It is rounded by its own gravity.
source: http://www.businessinsider.com.au/nasa-new-horizons-alan-stern-says-pluto-is-a-planet-2015-8
Many more reasons it qualifies as a planet at the link. O0
QuoteThat's because Pluto meets the main criteria for planethood: It is rounded by its own gravity.
Holy shit! I'm a
planet!
Quote from: bayonetbrant on August 24, 2015, 02:50:19 PM
QuoteThat's because Pluto meets the main criteria for planethood: It is rounded by its own gravity.
Holy shit! I'm a planet!
:2funny:
Me too.
:-[
I think you guys haven't been rounded by gravity but by your toes:
Cheetos, Fritos...
Planet.
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimage.slidesharecdn.com%2Fplelaa-140411074323-phpapp01%2F95%2Fpluto-lesson-4-638.jpg%3Fcb%3D1397202285&hash=9b87bb7f9fc21a0ec802a7f62aa358c2402333f2)
Quote from: LongBlade on August 24, 2015, 02:43:07 PM
Planet.
QuoteOn Aug. 24, 2006, nine years ago today, the International Astronomical Union demoted Pluto from a planet to a dwarf planet — a move that sparked protests and split the space-science community.
Some in the community, including leading Pluto researchers, are still upset at the decision.
"It's bulls—,"Alan Stern, the lead scientist behind NASA's New Horizons mission to Pluto, told Tech Insider in July (and said we could quote him on that).
The problem, Stern said, is that the reclassification largely stemmed from the opinions of astronomers, not planetary scientists. His beef here is that astronomers study a large variety of celestial objects and cosmic phenomena, while planetary scientists focus solely on planets, moons, and planetary systems.
"Why would you listen to an astronomer about a planet?" Stern said.
He compared it to going to a podiatrist for brain surgery.
"Even though they're both doctors, they have different expertise," Stern said. "You really should listen to planetary scientists that know something about this subject. When we look at an object like Pluto, we don't know what else to call it."
That's because Pluto meets the main criteria for planethood: It is rounded by its own gravity.
source: http://www.businessinsider.com.au/nasa-new-horizons-alan-stern-says-pluto-is-a-planet-2015-8
Many more reasons it qualifies as a planet at the link. O0
Sounds like a wanna be astronomer that didn't make the cut so calls himself a "planetary scientist".... same nonsense as MS lan knobs calling themselves "engineers". :P
QuoteThat's because Pluto meets the main criteria for planethood: It is rounded by its own gravity.
If that's the main criteria, then the Moon is a planet too. ::)
Still not a planet.
;)
Planet.
Dog.
Quote from: Barthheart on August 24, 2015, 07:45:49 PM
Sounds like a wanna be astronomer that didn't make the cut so calls himself a "planetary scientist".... same nonsense as MS lan knobs calling themselves "engineers". :P
QuoteThat's because Pluto meets the main criteria for planethood: It is rounded by its own gravity.
If that's the main criteria, then the Moon is a planet too. ::)
Still not a planet.
;)
Read. The. Article.
It's like you're going to a dentist for your alzheimers.
Planet.
Pluto, the Aquaman of planets.
Quote from: LongBlade on August 24, 2015, 09:46:44 PM
...
It's like you're going to a dentist for your alzheimers.
...
And yet you argue the point with an engineer who works in particle physics.... :idiot2:
Not a planet.
;)
Quote from: Barthheart on August 25, 2015, 07:01:10 AM
Quote from: LongBlade on August 24, 2015, 09:46:44 PM
...
It's like you're going to a dentist for your alzheimers.
...
And yet you argue the point with an engineer who works in particle physics.... :idiot2:
Not a planet.
;)
And no where in that description is Astronomer...:P
Quote from: Bison on August 25, 2015, 07:32:40 AM
Quote from: Barthheart on August 25, 2015, 07:01:10 AM
Quote from: LongBlade on August 24, 2015, 09:46:44 PM
...
It's like you're going to a dentist for your alzheimers.
...
And yet you argue the point with an engineer who works in particle physics.... :idiot2:
Not a planet.
;)
And no where in that description is Astronomer...:P
That's my point. ^-^
Planet
Quote from: Bison on August 25, 2015, 07:32:40 AM
Quote from: Barthheart on August 25, 2015, 07:01:10 AM
Quote from: LongBlade on August 24, 2015, 09:46:44 PM
...
It's like you're going to a dentist for your alzheimers.
...
And yet you argue the point with an engineer who works in particle physics.... :idiot2:
Not a planet.
;)
And no where in that description is Astronomer...:P
At least I have the sense to listen to a planetary scientist and not a partly tickleable engineer.
Quote from: LongBlade on August 25, 2015, 09:04:30 AM
Quote from: Bison on August 25, 2015, 07:32:40 AM
Quote from: Barthheart on August 25, 2015, 07:01:10 AM
Quote from: LongBlade on August 24, 2015, 09:46:44 PM
...
It's like you're going to a dentist for your alzheimers.
...
And yet you argue the point with an engineer who works in particle physics.... :idiot2:
Not a planet.
;)
And no where in that description is Astronomer...:P
At least I have the sense to listen to a planetary scientist and not a partly tickleable engineer.
Just because Aquaman likes Uranus, it doesn't make him a planetary scientist.
Coolest pic of Pluto to date, probably one of the coolest photos of a planet period. Those mountains are huge:
Link to article (http://www.nasa.gov/feature/pluto-wows-in-spectacular-new-backlit-panorama)
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasa.gov%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fthumbnails%2Fimage%2Fnh-apluto-mountains-plains-9-17-15_0.png&hash=c804bc1299ca72360ead6e2f1c90ec5d41b52ef8)
^awesome. Thanks for posting!
I'm not going to lie. There is a part of me that is sad I won't be around to experience commercial space travel to other planets.
Quote from: Bison on September 18, 2015, 10:17:04 AM
I'm not going to lie. There is a part of me that is sad I won't be around to experience commercial space travel to other planets.
Ditto..... :'(
Same :-(((
The stache will find a way to get you there, Bob.
the 'stache could be an alien.
Quote from: GDS_Starfury on September 18, 2015, 04:54:00 PM
the 'stache could be an alien.
I, for one, welcome our new 'Stache Overlords...
Still not a planet... >:D :D ;D
http://go.nasa.gov/1KXuW8e (http://go.nasa.gov/1KXuW8e)
QuoteOur New Horizons spacecraft has returned the best color and highest resolution images yet of Pluto's largest moon, Charon. This moon was thought to be a monotonous, crater-battled world; instead, it's covered with mountains, canyons, landslides and more!
(https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/t31.0-8/12028777_10153579258846772_8883593727963723006_o.jpg)
Uh, it's still a crater-battered world, NASA. Just not as monotonous as you were expecting. ::)
Nice!
Charon looks like it's had the sheeot beat out of it for quite awhile.
That massive fissure is crazy. :o Looks like it almost cracked the whole thing in half!
I think I see a waterpark down there. And Starbucks, of course.
Quote from: Nefaro on October 02, 2015, 05:55:58 PM
That massive fissure is crazy. :o Looks like it almost cracked the whole thing in half!
You're right. I missed that.
Wowzers.
Water ice and a blue sky have been confirmed on the planet.
QuoteJust 10 days after confirming that liquid water has been found on Mars, the US space agency revealed the amazing dwarf-planet has both ice and a 'gorgeous' blue sky.
A Nasa spokesman said: "New Horizons has detected numerous small, exposed regions of water ice on Pluto.
"The discovery was made from data collected by the Ralph spectral composition mapper on New Horizons."
There has been repeated speculation Pluto may have a liquid sea under its surface, and confirmation of water ice on the surface adds to this theory.
source: http://www.express.co.uk/news/science/610802/ICE-ON-PLUTO-Frozen-water-and-blue-skies-found-on-dwarf-planet
Sounding better than LA already.
Just in...The dark side of Pluto. Check out that atmosphere.
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasa.gov%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fthumbnails%2Fimage%2Fblue_skies_on_pluto-final-2.png&hash=94b5f7ca95bbadbf4d11dd9b397e9d8d499d6971)
Huh.
I was wondering how they were inferring a gorgeous blue sky. Huh!
Whoever it was who wrote the Space Battleship Yamato / Star Blazers story must be randomly fist-pumping for a minute every day: subterranean oceans, blue sky...
Quote from: JasonPratt on October 09, 2015, 12:47:56 PM
I was wondering how they were inferring a gorgeous blue sky. Huh!
The haze particles themselves are likely gray or red, but the way they scatter blue light has gotten the attention of the New Horizons science team. "That striking blue tint tells us about the size and composition of the haze particles," said science team researcher Carly Howett, also of SwRI. "A blue sky often results from scattering of sunlight by very small particles. On Earth, those particles are very tiny nitrogen molecules. On Pluto they appear to be larger — but still relatively small — soot-like particles we call tholins."Source : http://www.nasa.gov/nh/nh-finds-blue-skies-and-water-ice-on-pluto
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/21/science/space/ninth-planet-solar-system-beyond-pluto.html
Quote from: mirth on January 20, 2016, 12:46:16 PM
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/21/science/space/ninth-planet-solar-system-beyond-pluto.html
Cool. We're up to ten!
Quote from: mirth on January 20, 2016, 12:46:16 PM
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/21/science/space/ninth-planet-solar-system-beyond-pluto.html
Very cool.
There's been regular estimation of a large body out beyond the Kuiper belt for awhile. Likely with an extremely long and somewhat erratic orbit, which occasionally upsets the comets out there and sends some toward the inner system.
I think that original estimation was due to them not being able to mathematically explain the high number of comets & asteroids being sent into the system only by distrubing each other in the Kuiper Belt and beyond.
There was also some speculation that the outer planets couldn't have settled into their current orbits long ago without at least one other planet's gravitational effects, and it/them being ejected out of the solar system to some degree.
Nice that they're getting more detailed evidence of it. O0
Vid explanation from the discoverers:
Very cool news! I know there's long been speculation of a large planet -- or possibly even a very dim companion star (commonly dubbed "Nemesis") -- out that way, so it's good that they're finally finding more concrete evidence of this body's existence. O0
I CLAIM IT! I CLAIM IT! Can I do that? Planet Slash. Very cool.
Pluto=planet.
Pluto has an atmosphere and blue skies, ergo: planet. :)
Quote from: LongBlade on January 20, 2016, 01:38:53 PM
Quote from: mirth on January 20, 2016, 12:46:16 PM
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/21/science/space/ninth-planet-solar-system-beyond-pluto.html
Cool. We're up to ten!
Could be hundreds... or even thousands:
QuoteIt is suspected that another hundred or so known objects in the Solar System are dwarf planets.[12] Estimates are that up to 200 dwarf planets may be found when the entire region known as the Kuiper belt is explored, and that the number may exceed 10,000 when objects scattered outside the Kuiper belt are considered.[13] Individual astronomers recognize several of these,[12] and in August 2011 Mike Brown published a list of 390 candidate objects, ranging from "nearly certain" to "possible" dwarf planets.[11] Brown currently identifies eleven known objects – the five accepted by the IAU plus 2007 OR10, Quaoar, Sedna, Orcus, (307261) 2002 MS4 and Salacia – as "virtually certain", with another dozen highly likely.[12] Stern states that there are more than a dozen known dwarf planets.[13]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwarf_planet
AFA I'm concerned, I'm good with Pluto and Eris, dwarf or otherwise, being planets as long as we include Ceres since we may actually get to that one before we either destroy ourselves or develop trans-stellar travel of some kind.
Here's an interesting article about Planetary Migration, which explains the likely cause of such a planet being so far off with an unusual orbit:
The Role of Planetary Migration in the Evolution of the Solar System
http://blog.planethunters.org/2014/05/09/the-role-of-planetary-migration-in-the-evolution-of-the-solar-system/
Wasn't there a prediction by one of the famous Psychics about there being a tenth planet? Maybe Edgar Cayce or somebody more recent? An invisible planet or some such? I can't get my mind to recall where I heard about it.
Quote from: Sir Slash on January 20, 2016, 11:39:57 PM
Wasn't there a prediction by one of the famous Psychics about there being a tenth planet? Maybe Edgar Cayce or somebody more recent? An invisible planet or some such? I can't get my mind to recall where I heard about it.
Many of those pseudoscientific predictions from the 19th and early 20th centuries were about a 'twin earth' orbiting the sun exactly opposite our earth so we could never actually see it. IIRC, the ancient Greeks actually theorized about the possibility first but it fell out of favor after Newton's work was published. It was revived again later on.
I'd imagine many amateur/professional astronomers will be busy trying to find it. At 4500 times the mass of pluto, it must be observable.
I just want to get this straight. A known object with an atmosphere and signs of geological activity with several moons is not a planet, but a possible planet X like object is a planet even though it's only theoretical?
I hope it's out there but not like it's described in Ancient Aliens, because that's bad.
Quote from: Bison on January 21, 2016, 09:41:38 AM
I just want to get this straight. A known object with an atmosphere and signs of geological activity with several moons is not a planet, but a possible planet X like object is a planet even though it's only theoretical?
I hope it's out there but not like it's described in Ancient Aliens, because that's bad.
a full blown planet has not only the gravitational force to a) force its components into a sphere
but
also b) 'dominates' its orbit around its sun and clears it from other objects (that was added lately)
if point b) is missing its a dwarf planet ...so layman still can shorten it up to
planet without being totally wrong
its a little bit like sorting firearms into handguns and longguns:.handguns are shot with one or two hands, longarms are pulled against the shoulder
...but there are guns out you can shoot for example from the hip or with a pistolgrip only and there are also (machine)pistols that have a folding stock to be braced against the shoulder ...so does a pumpgun with pistolgrip became a handgun. And does a MP5 with fixed stock become a longgun , and what's with those rare longer barreled ol'westerntimes revolvers who could be attached to a handcrafted stock? on the fly attachable stocks also exist for the Luger08 and the Mauser C96?
so to clear it up the caliber is taken into account too sort them a little more
Quote from: MikeGER on January 21, 2016, 10:45:05 AM
Quote from: Bison on January 21, 2016, 09:41:38 AM
I just want to get this straight. A known object with an atmosphere and signs of geological activity with several moons is not a planet, but a possible planet X like object is a planet even though it's only theoretical?
I hope it's out there but not like it's described in Ancient Aliens, because that's bad.
a full blown planet has not only the gravitational force to a) force its components into a sphere
but also
b) 'dominates' its orbit around its sun and clears it from other objects (that was added lately)
if point b) is missing its a dwarf planet ...so layman still can shorten it up to planet without being totally wrong
its a little bit like sorting firearms into handguns and longguns:.handguns are shot with one or two hands, longarms are pulled against the shoulder
...but there are guns out you can shoot for example from the hip or with a pistolgrip only and there are also (machine)pistols that have a folding stock to be braced against the shoulder ...so does a pumpgun with pistolgrip became a handgun. And does a MP5 with fixed stock become a longgun , and what's with those rare longer barreled ol'westerntimes revolvers who could be attached to a handcrafted stock? on the fly attachable stocks also exist for the Luger08 and the Mauser C96?
so to clear it up the caliber is taken into account too sort them
Yeah, what he said! Science bitches! >:D
So Pluto is a planet. Thanks.
Dwarf planet. O0
Quote from: Barthheart on January 21, 2016, 07:42:43 PM
Dwarf planet. O0
It's 'mass-challenged' planet you inconsiderate oaf!
Scientists are insensitive jerks.
That's why I'm an engineer... we're much more couth..... :coolsmiley:
I'm not seeing a difference here math boy. :P
8)
Does that mean only dwarves can live there?
Quote from: Sir Slash on January 21, 2016, 10:29:58 PM
Does that mean only dwarves can live there?
Planet of the Gusses - "Get your stinking paws on me you damned dirty ape!"
Right! Like there EVER was a damned, clean Ape. :idiot2:
The most amazing and unique dwarf planet we know of! It's like it isn't even a dwarf planet at all! >:D :P
I mean, I understand it fails one point of the current classification scheme, but it features characteristics transcending expectations of similar bodies (especially so far out from the sun). I'll be honestly surprised if the current criteria isn't adjusted with provisions eventually.
https://www.change.org/p/gazetteer-of-planetary-nomenclature-name-the-newly-discovered-planet-9-yuggoth-after-the-planet-in-h-p-lovecraft-s-mythos
Yuggoth of the Elder Gods has appeared, just as Lovecraft wrote.
Quote from: besilarius on January 28, 2016, 06:54:22 PM
https://www.change.org/p/gazetteer-of-planetary-nomenclature-name-the-newly-discovered-planet-9-yuggoth-after-the-planet-in-h-p-lovecraft-s-mythos
Yuggoth of the Elder Gods has appeared, just as Lovecraft wrote.
LOL
That would be.. interesting.. but wouldn't fit the ancient mythical naming convention so well. Source material not being ancient and all.
Pluto has oceans of H2O. Frozen ones, but oceans nonetheless:
http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/30/us/pluto-surface-water-ice-irpt/index.html (http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/30/us/pluto-surface-water-ice-irpt/index.html)
Star Blazers / Space Battleship Yamato continues to be ludicrously prescient.
Quote from: Nefaro on July 14, 2015, 08:43:32 PM
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic.fjcdn.com%2Fpictures%2FMeh%2Bi%2Bdont%2Bactually%2Bhate%2Bmidgets%2Bby%2Bthe%2Bway_262a8f_3933522.jpg&hash=8ad1197c346175a46e304666e51c0c176d2be76d)
ROFL! Great find. O0
http://listverse.com/2016/02/18/10-amazing-facts-about-the-new-ninth-planet/
seems like a good place for a starship base.
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap160430.html
Another dwarf planet discovered
http://www.space.com/33387-dwarf-planet-discovery-2015-rr245.html
That's no dwarf planet...
Does anybody know somebody here that's short and Dwarf-looking that we could name it after? Anybody? Anybody at all? Short? Bald maybe? Like a dwarf maybe? Or we could just call it, "Ur-little-anus".