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Impactor hunter
Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2010 5:33 am
by Rokcet Scientist
Pan-Starrs telescope begins operations to hunt asteroids
A new telescope facility in Hawaii designed to search for asteroids and comets which could threaten Earth has been made operational.
The Pan-STARRS 1 telescope will map large portions of the sky each night to track not only close space objects, but also exploding stars (supernovae).
The telescope has been taking science data for six months but is now operating from dusk-dawn each night.
Pan-STARRS 1 (PS1) is expected to map one-sixth of the sky every month.
The facility boasts a huge digital camera: a 1,400 megapixel (1.4 gigapixel) device that can photograph an area of the sky as large as 36 full Moons in a single exposure.
"Although modest in size, this telescope is on the cutting edge of technology," said Dr Nick Kaiser, head of the Pan-STARRS project.
The giant digital camera will take over 500 exposures each night, collecting about four terabytes of data (equivalent to what 1,000 DVDs can hold).
By casting a wide net, the telescope is expected to catch many moving objects within our Solar System.
Frequent follow-up observations will allow astronomers to track those objects and calculate their orbits, identifying any potential threats to Earth. [...]
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science_and_ ... 340488.stm
But when they
do discover a rock on a collision course with mother Earth, what are they supposed to do about it?
Re: Impactor hunter
Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2010 8:08 am
by Minimalist
Tell us to hide under our desks as they did in the 50's?
Re: Impactor hunter
Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2010 8:32 am
by kbs2244
Put in a call to Bruce Willis
Re: Impactor hunter
Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2010 5:54 pm
by E.P. Grondine
Depends on what it is, how big it is, and how far off they find it.
But have no fear, as all impactors can be handled with our current technologies, PROVIDED that we spend the money to find them EARLY. Pan Starrs is one of the telescopes on the way, with LLSAT coming soon, followed by space based detection instruments.
RS, it would appear that we impact researchers have persuaded you that impacts are a real threat and one of concern.
You can visit cosmictusk.com for much of the latest news.
Re: Impactor hunter
Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 7:19 am
by Rokcet Scientist
E.P. Grondine wrote:RS, it would appear that we impact researchers have persuaded you that impacts are a real threat and one of concern.
No, E.P., impact researchers haven't persuaded me. I did my own impact research and put two and two together when I was 7 and looking out my bedroom window at the moon and its craters...
And since we, mankind, currently can't do anything about impactors or their trajectories, being 'concerned' will/would currently only translate in extremely counterproductive mass hysteria. So I ignore potential impactors and advise everybody else to do so as well. It's more intelligent to apply energy where it is effective than wasting it.
Re: Impactor hunter
Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 9:34 am
by E.P. Grondine
Rokcet Scientist wrote:
And since we, mankind, currently can't do anything about impactors or their trajectories, being 'concerned' will/would currently only translate in extremely counterproductive mass hysteria.
RS, where did you pick up that bit of rubbish?
Re: Impactor hunter
Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 10:11 am
by Minimalist
I know there are lots of ideas floating around, E.P. but until one of them is actually tested and shown to work we are pretty much screwed if one of them is large enough and has our name written on it.
Re: Impactor hunter
Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 11:12 am
by Rokcet Scientist
E.P. Grondine wrote:Rokcet Scientist wrote:
And since we, mankind, currently can't do anything about impactors or their trajectories, being 'concerned' will/would currently only translate in extremely counterproductive mass hysteria.
RS, where did you pick up that bit of rubbish?
Experience and history, E.P.
I can recommend learning from them!
Case in point: your own Patriot Act and FISA, and the subsequent rape of human rights, are the direct result of mass hysteria, triggered by 9/11.
As someone once said: "Those who refuse to learn from history are condemned to relive it", because "l'histoire se répète".
Re: Impactor hunter
Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 12:35 pm
by Digit
and the subsequent rape of human rights, are the direct result of mass hysteria,
http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/geert ... ajor-gains
I must own up here that I have never understood the anti US traits in Europe, over the years I think people would be hard put to find any country that has been more of a force for good than the US of A.
Roy.
Re: Impactor hunter
Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 1:24 pm
by Minimalist
We are not covering ourselves with glory, lately, Dig.
1945 was a long time ago.
Re: Impactor hunter
Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 1:27 pm
by Digit
Didn't say you were Min, but most countries are a great deal worse, which was my point.
Roy.
Re: Impactor hunter
Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 2:21 pm
by Rokcet Scientist
Digit wrote:and the subsequent rape of human rights, are the direct result of mass hysteria,
http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/geert ... ajor-gains
I must own up here that I have never understood the anti US traits in Europe, over the years I think people would be hard put to find any country that has been more of a force for good than the US of A.
My criticisms just as much apply to the UK, with its ??? million CCTVs, or to many countries' Secret Service's m.o.'s, etc. etc., Roy!
But the Patriot Act and FISA have a strangling fall out effect faaar beyond 'just' the States! They affect the entire world's population! And as such they deserve, no they
must be scrutinized!
The US wallow in their self-appointed role of 'leader of the free world' so realistic people won't be surprised by the attention the US get. Reagan said it, remember: If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
And oh yeah: that electoral win by the far right overhere indeed worries me. I am, however, comforted by the thought that those were 'frivolous' votes that will just as easily swing the other way again at the next elections (most were ex labor vote(r)s anyway). And despite their electoral win, the far right has sofar not succeeded in finding coalition partners. They seem isolated (thank god). So it looks like they won't be in the government. But that government/coalition formation process is still on-going so accidents can still happen.
Re: Impactor hunter
Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 2:36 pm
by Minimalist
Reagan said it, remember: If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
Reagan said a lot of stupid shit.
Re: Impactor hunter
Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 2:43 pm
by Digit
My criticisms just as much apply to the UK, with its ??? million CCTVs, or to many Secret Service's m.o.'s, etc. etc., Roy!
Totally agree, hence my point that I fail to understand why people point at the US, why not China? North Korea? Saudi Arabia? He may not have found coalition partners RS but it could well be argued that the other parties are ignoring a good sized part of the voting population thereby.
Hardly democratic. As regards the CTV cameras etc, yep, good old socialism in action!
Roy.
Re: Impactor hunter
Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 3:01 pm
by Minimalist
why not China? North Korea? Saudi Arabia?
Because they don't wrap themselves in virtue and claim to be something they are not?
(Just guessing.)