KBO encounters |
KBO encounters |
Aug 2 2008, 12:53 PM
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#1
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 6 Joined: 1-August 08 Member No.: 4280 |
Hi,
I’m regular follower of NH and I’m also interested in the 2nd leg of the mission, i.e the 2016+ KBOs encounters. Does anyone know when operations about this leg (starting with searching objects of interest with HST or some other earth-based means, I suppose) are expected to begin ? |
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Jun 27 2011, 08:25 PM
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#2
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Merciless Robot Group: Admin Posts: 8784 Joined: 8-December 05 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 602 |
Yeah, you're right, Emily...it was my best guess.
I & obviously many others would still be very interested in knowing what a realistic detection rate should be. Probably even the project isn't sure yet, though; this is raw science, so of course there are always surprises in the data... -------------------- A few will take this knowledge and use this power of a dream realized as a force for change, an impetus for further discovery to make less ancient dreams real.
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Jun 27 2011, 10:36 PM
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#3
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Member Group: Members Posts: 701 Joined: 3-December 04 From: Boulder, Colorado, USA Member No.: 117 |
Yeah, you're right, Emily...it was my best guess. I & obviously many others would still be very interested in knowing what a realistic detection rate should be. Probably even the project isn't sure yet, though; this is raw science, so of course there are always surprises in the data... Yes, variable stars and KBOs are indistinguishable by image size for the reasons Emily gives. But we can distinguish them after all the clicks are compiled because a KBO will produce a series of detections aligned along its orbital path, while variable stars have no such pattern. Regarding detection rates, we expect there to be a KBO (on any orbit, whether accessible to New Horizons or not) in perhaps every 50th thumbnail, given their known density in the sky. So most of these point sources are going to be variable stars, but at the rate you guys are clicking through them, you've probably nailed quite a few KBOs too. John |
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