Recent comments in /f/space

Erinalope t1_jajc7cz wrote

Reply to comment by Embite in NASA’s DART data validates kinetic impact as planetary defense method | DART altered the orbit of the asteroid moonlet Dimorphos by 33 minutes by mepper

Scientists are typically pessimistic with unknown variables and there may have been other forces at work that added to the effect. They’ll study the results plus the ESA is sending a follow up mission to the asteroid which will add to the data. There’s still so little we know about asteroids it might not be a bad idea to do a dart 2 with a lander to examine a different type of asteroid interior more closely.

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rocketsocks t1_jajbgi0 wrote

Reply to comment by [deleted] in NASA’s DART data validates kinetic impact as planetary defense method | DART altered the orbit of the asteroid moonlet Dimorphos by 33 minutes by mepper

That would be less valuable than other studies. DART with Dimorphos is one data point, to gain enough knowledge of the problem space to be able to build actual asteroid diversion systems based on the principle would require a lot more data points (realistically dozens). We need to understand the variations of how rubble pile asteroids are built, the range of possible impact dynamics, and what levels of predictability can be expected along with what features and measurable aspects can be relied on to guide that predictability. It may be that the next rubble pile asteroid we try to do this with is twice as effective, or half as effective, or maybe not effective at all, we don't have that data yet. DART is really just the first step of a long journey towards building the technology of asteroid diversion, and it is also not the only way to do it. It's a technique that will work in some situations but not others.

A lot of people imagine DART as being like this prototype of a system that we can just pull off the shelf and use to save humanity, but it's just basic research into the problem space, it's nowhere near anything like a prototype.

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FlingingGoronGonads t1_jaj8v7t wrote

Reply to comment by dern_the_hermit in Satellite Constellations Are an Existential Threat for Astronomy by ChieftainMcLeland

Sure, chuckles, loss of data is no big deal. Especially when you know ahead of time that the transient object/behaviour you're looking for means that the light source has no guarantee of being at the same brightness or position next exposure.

Musk fanatics are forever betraying their ignorance of science. Bye-bye, troll.

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FlingingGoronGonads t1_jaj6mwh wrote

Reply to comment by dern_the_hermit in Satellite Constellations Are an Existential Threat for Astronomy by ChieftainMcLeland

What happens when the actual object you're trying to observe is blotted out with an adjacent satellite streak? Vera Rubin will be taking short exposures - lots of them. Wide-field surveys need the sky to be open because, you know, they're looking for unknown sources, or need to see if known sources are doing unexpected things. Why is that difficult to understand?

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bgplsa t1_jaj46tz wrote

Reply to comment by ferrettt55 in NASA’s DART data validates kinetic impact as planetary defense method | DART altered the orbit of the asteroid moonlet Dimorphos by 33 minutes by mepper

THIS !!! ^ ^ ^ government and academic employees who spend money exactly like private employees on food, housing, entertainment, etc aren’t burning that money for heat, it hasn’t gone anywhere except to support people trogs don’t like.

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