2014 MU69 "Ultima Thule" flyby, For discussion of the encounter as it happens |
2014 MU69 "Ultima Thule" flyby, For discussion of the encounter as it happens |
Jan 2 2019, 02:44 PM
Post
#151
|
|
Junior Member Group: Members Posts: 57 Joined: 20-January 12 From: Florida Member No.: 6317 |
My guess is that a lot of medium-sized bodies will turn out to be peanut-shaped like this, possibly with very different makeup of the lobes with different origins. Itokawa, 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, Ultima Thule...
|
|
|
Jan 2 2019, 03:24 PM
Post
#152
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 120 Joined: 26-May 15 From: Rome - Italy Member No.: 7482 |
Ummm like evident contact object; no binary distant
|
|
|
Jan 2 2019, 03:30 PM
Post
#153
|
|
IMG to PNG GOD Group: Moderator Posts: 2250 Joined: 19-February 04 From: Near fire and ice Member No.: 38 |
Judging from what Alan Stern posted on FB, the press conference later today is probably going to be really interesting.
|
|
|
Jan 2 2019, 03:33 PM
Post
#154
|
|
Senior Member Group: Moderator Posts: 3233 Joined: 11-February 04 From: Tucson, AZ Member No.: 23 |
Judging from Roman's processing, it looks like the neck is quite a bit darker than the two lobes, especially looking at that last image. Could be a roughness affect, neck smoother (mostly dust) while the lobes are rougher.
-------------------- &@^^!% Jim! I'm a geologist, not a physicist!
The Gish Bar Times - A Blog all about Jupiter's Moon Io |
|
|
Jan 2 2019, 03:43 PM
Post
#155
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 120 Joined: 26-May 15 From: Rome - Italy Member No.: 7482 |
I remember the Hartley comet form:
. . |
|
|
Jan 2 2019, 04:02 PM
Post
#156
|
|
Junior Member Group: Members Posts: 30 Joined: 15-June 15 Member No.: 7506 |
Judging from what Alan Stern posted on FB, the press conference later today is probably going to be really interesting. Quote? Link? I'm not finding his profile via google or people search on facebook, and the link from "contact" on his personal .space domain does not work. |
|
|
Jan 2 2019, 04:08 PM
Post
#157
|
|
Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1582 Joined: 14-October 05 From: Vermont Member No.: 530 |
Alan Stern Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/s.alan.stern
|
|
|
Jan 2 2019, 04:10 PM
Post
#158
|
|
Junior Member Group: Members Posts: 30 Joined: 15-June 15 Member No.: 7506 |
Alan Stern Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/s.alan.stern I just get "Page Not Found" - same link that's on his site. That's fine, I can wait for the press conference. |
|
|
Jan 2 2019, 04:21 PM
Post
#159
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 547 Joined: 1-May 06 From: Scotland (Ecosse, Escocia) Member No.: 759 |
I got it OK from that link. This is Alan's intriguing message :
" Planetary science fans-- I think you definitely want to tune in to our press conference about Ultima Thule today, 2 pm Eastern. Just one thing, before you do, fasten your seat belts! " |
|
|
Jan 2 2019, 04:36 PM
Post
#160
|
|
Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2511 Joined: 13-September 05 Member No.: 497 |
" Planetary science fans-- I think you definitely want to tune in to our press conference about Ultima Thule today, 2 pm Eastern. Just one thing, before you do, fasten your seat belts! " What did you expect him to say? I'm sure it will be interesting, but I wouldn't read much into this. -------------------- Disclaimer: This post is based on public information only. Any opinions are my own.
|
|
|
Jan 2 2019, 05:02 PM
Post
#161
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 137 Joined: 16-June 15 Member No.: 7507 |
What did you expect him to say? I'm sure it will be interesting, but I wouldn't read much into this. Well, he certainly disappoint with Pluto... sure, there was hype, but it was well warranted. Based on his post, I'm expecting at least something quite "unexpected" / "out of the ordinary". |
|
|
Jan 2 2019, 05:03 PM
Post
#162
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 684 Joined: 24-July 15 Member No.: 7619 |
Ummm... Yeah... They're Spaceballs... They're twirling Spaceballs.... (I assume this is funnier in Italian) -Voiceover- The unexpected collaboration between Alan Stern and Mel Brooks..... Behold the twiriling spaceballs, Skroob and Yogurt |
|
|
Jan 2 2019, 05:04 PM
Post
#163
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 120 Joined: 26-May 15 From: Rome - Italy Member No.: 7482 |
What did you expect him to say? I'm sure it will be interesting, but I wouldn't read much into this. I agree with you. Based on his post, I'm expecting at least something quite "unexpected" / "out of the ordinary". I hope so.. |
|
|
Jan 2 2019, 05:16 PM
Post
#164
|
|
Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1630 Joined: 5-March 05 From: Boulder, CO Member No.: 184 |
The full moon produces about 0.1 lux illumination, so sunlight at Ultima Thule would be around 21 lux. This is between "twilight" (~10 lux) and "very dark overcast (~110 lux). Dimly lit publlc areas run between 20 to 50 lux, and home interiors are around 150 lux. To somewhat nail down the illuminance in lux we can start with the solar constant of 1360 W/m^2 at 1AU. This is 0.85 W/m^2 at 40AU (dividing by 1600). For a solar spectrum we can convert the irradiance (W/m^2) to illuminance (lux) dividing again by .0079. This works out to about 108 lux at UT. A similar calculation for an Earthly full moon (1/400000 of the sun at 1AU) is 0.43 lux. -------------------- Steve [ my home page and planetary maps page ]
|
|
|
Jan 2 2019, 05:19 PM
Post
#165
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 684 Joined: 24-July 15 Member No.: 7619 |
-Voiceover- The unexpected collaboration between Alan Stern and Mel Brooks..... On second thought, a better choice for the voiceover- Here, in a world where the sun burns cold, and the wind blows colder, a visitor has come..." -Don LaFontaine(1940-2008) theatrical voiceover for Alien 3 |
|
|
Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 1st May 2024 - 04:07 AM |
RULES AND GUIDELINES Please read the Forum Rules and Guidelines before posting. IMAGE COPYRIGHT |
OPINIONS AND MODERATION Opinions expressed on UnmannedSpaceflight.com are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of UnmannedSpaceflight.com or The Planetary Society. The all-volunteer UnmannedSpaceflight.com moderation team is wholly independent of The Planetary Society. The Planetary Society has no influence over decisions made by the UnmannedSpaceflight.com moderators. |
SUPPORT THE FORUM Unmannedspaceflight.com is funded by the Planetary Society. Please consider supporting our work and many other projects by donating to the Society or becoming a member. |