Comet observation from Mars, comets close encounters to Mars in 2013 and 2014 |
Comet observation from Mars, comets close encounters to Mars in 2013 and 2014 |
Feb 25 2013, 10:07 PM
Post
#1
|
|
Newbie Group: Members Posts: 18 Joined: 20-April 05 From: Czech Republic Member No.: 300 |
Is there is any possibility to observe comets in near future from surface of Mars and/or from Mars orbiters. Which types of instruments are possible to use?
For example (http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/horizons.cgi - position Mars 0deg Longitude, 5deg south Latitude, time UTC): 1) Comet C/2012 S1 (ISON) 2013-Oct-01 17:19UTC RA 23 07 44.73 DE +69 27 46.0 MAG 2.93 r 1.637007919902 delta 0.07246306543080 So there is relativly very close encounter in October 2013, about 11 million km from Mars.. 2) Comet C/2013 A1 (Sidding Spring) 2014-Oct-19 20:59UTC RA 10 49 50.64 DE -60 38 09.5 MAG -8.29 r 1.401218071277 delta 0.00070643344409 There is still maybe not so precise orbit BUT, there is ONLY about 105 000 km (65 000 miles) encounter from Mars. Especially the second comet, if this orbit will be OK, is very interesting target to observe. -------------------- |
|
|
Apr 11 2013, 06:22 AM
Post
#2
|
|
Junior Member Group: Members Posts: 69 Joined: 15-June 12 From: Hong Kong Member No.: 6419 |
OK I need some expertise about spacecraft methane detection: a recent Indian news report claims that the Indian Mars Orbiter may be delayed from this year's launch window because the comet may affect the operation of one of its science instruments, the methane sensor. It quote an un-named scientist saying that "Most comets have methane, and there is a good chance that our MSN payload (methane sensor) may confuse the methane it detects from the comet as that of Mars and transmit wrong data. Such data will mislead us. Even NASA is wary. "
Somehow I think that this should never been a problem - in fact that little spacecraft is in such a high elliptical orbit that it is in the prime position to make observations of the comet tail, so it seems strange that the Indians think that there's a data contamination problem - they could just delay the instrument's observations if this really is a problem, which again I doubt (or just record the before and after comet passage data for comparison). Hmm.... does that mean something else is going on with the testing of the spacecraft? Can any expert on trace gases shed some light on the credibility of this claim? Thanks! -------------------- UMSF - the place of Opportunity to satisfy your Spirit of Curiosity via Perseverance
|
|
|
Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 23rd September 2024 - 02:58 PM |
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. |