Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Dwarf planet Ceres' bright spots shrink but stay strange on approach
cnet.com ^ | Erik Mack

Posted on 05/25/2015 1:34:35 PM PDT by BenLurkin

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-47 next last
To: piytar

My guess is ice below the surface revealed by an impact.


21 posted on 05/25/2015 2:15:36 PM PDT by Moonman62 (The US has become a government with a country, rather than a country with a government.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin
I'm gonna go out on a limb here, but tell me if you heard this before...


22 posted on 05/25/2015 2:30:40 PM PDT by VanDeKoik
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 9thLife

You’re so bad! :)


23 posted on 05/25/2015 2:43:04 PM PDT by TribalPrincess2U (0bama's agenda—Divide and conquer seems to be working.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

Been following this. So wild.


24 posted on 05/25/2015 2:55:02 PM PDT by RIghtwardHo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Crazieman

The one on the right with lighted corners is oddly symetrical.


25 posted on 05/25/2015 3:06:35 PM PDT by Rockpile
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

Crystal cities?


26 posted on 05/25/2015 3:25:39 PM PDT by Jack Hydrazine (Pubbies = national collectivists; Dems = international collectivists; We need a second party!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

There is more to worry about in space than dust, rocks, and radiation ...


27 posted on 05/25/2015 3:48:17 PM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now it is your turn ...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Crazieman

Ice or fresh debris gouged out from a comet or meteor.


28 posted on 05/25/2015 4:46:42 PM PDT by jmacusa (`)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: GeronL
Does anyone know how big an area that is?

I can confidently say the answer is "yes".

As for us, it says 700m per pixel, so you could guess the pixel width, or go to the Dawn site and get the true resolution. I'm gonna say "tens of kilometers wide" for the big one.

29 posted on 05/25/2015 5:31:56 PM PDT by dr_lew
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: sten

That spy satellite only had 22000 miles to travel, 22000 miles to transmit data back, and only had a couple of years to live.

Dawn has to travel hundreds of millions of miles, has multiple destinations to go to and orbit, and has to transmit its findings up to ~360 million miles back to earth.

Furthermore the imaging systems on Dawn need to take care of multiple roles. Spy satellites have but one job: image minute detail from just one focal distance: 22000 miles.

Rocket science ain’t easy


30 posted on 05/25/2015 5:33:27 PM PDT by Yossarian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: sten
4500 miles and a resolution of 700m per pixel?! spy satellites from the early 70s could take pictures from 22,000 miles and had a resolution of < 1m per pixel. ONE METER. 40 year old tech was 490,000x (700x700) better?!

You don't actually think they're showing us what NASA has to work with, do you? I have a leaked photo of one of the REAL Ceres photos here - just a tad better than what they let US see...


31 posted on 05/25/2015 5:34:45 PM PDT by Talisker (One whxo commands, must obey.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Talisker
Spock left a Sea Monkey colony on Ceres, and it evolved...


32 posted on 05/25/2015 5:47:36 PM PDT by COBOL2Java (I'll vote for Jeb when Terri Schiavo endorses him.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

Those are some tough-looking spots. I hope we sent the ultra-concentrated Dawn!

Ice.


33 posted on 05/25/2015 5:49:38 PM PDT by mrsmith (Dumb sluts: Lifeblood of the Media, Backbone of the Democrat/RINO Party!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

“For the world is hollow, and I have touched the sky”


34 posted on 05/25/2015 5:50:06 PM PDT by Charles Martel (Endeavor to persevere...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dr_lew

thanks


35 posted on 05/25/2015 5:57:22 PM PDT by GeronL (free short story: http://flscifi.blogspot.com/2015/05/free-short-story-proper-care-feeding-of.html)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Charles Martel

Excellent.


36 posted on 05/25/2015 5:58:56 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: cripplecreek
Current position. Its only made one close pass about 8000 miles away from the surface.

Yer way out of date. That was the initial pass back in March or so. Right now, as of May 26, 2015 02:03:09 UTC, it's at an altitude of 3750 miles, with rockets on!

37 posted on 05/25/2015 5:59:42 PM PDT by dr_lew
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: dr_lew

Actually no I’m not out of date. The NASA data is current.

Science writers are morons.


38 posted on 05/25/2015 6:01:28 PM PDT by cripplecreek ("For by wise guidance you can wage your war")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: cripplecreek
Dude!


39 posted on 05/25/2015 6:07:05 PM PDT by dr_lew
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: dr_lew

Dude, its on the dark side just over 40,000 miles out. My data is from NASA and is in real time whether you like it or not.


40 posted on 05/25/2015 6:11:19 PM PDT by cripplecreek ("For by wise guidance you can wage your war")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-47 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson