[DISCUSSION THREAD] [Updates] Space probe reaches Pluto!

[Outlaw]

After nine and a half years and over three billion miles the New Horizons spacecraft is set to give us our first up close pictures of Pluto this year. It's closest approach will be on July 14 and, in addition to photographs, will send back valuable scientific data. It's funny to think that when it was launched Pluto was still considered a planet. Anyway, I wanted to make a thread for people to discuss this important event and it's findings.

If you are just now reading this at 7:30 a.m. EST today go to Nasa's website for the live stream or turn to the Nasa TV channel if you have it.

Edit: Tonight at 9:30 p.m. EST is when they will show us the pictures and talk about some of the data.

Mission website:

http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/

Nasa's site:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/ne...ain/index.html

More info on wiki:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Ho...luto_encounter

Updates:

Spoiler: show

New Horizons is now only 0.10 AU from Pluto and image resolution has exceeded previous photos taken by Hubble.

http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/whereisnh/Pl...50701_0028.svg

http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/Multimedia/S..._NASA_SWRI.jpg

http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/Multimedia/S..._NASA_SWRI.jpg

http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/Multimedia/S...age6-30-15.jpg

Descriptions of the images:

http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/Multimedia/S...2&image_id=191

NASA's website also has lots of new info and stuff like this cool time lapse.



http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/ne...ain/index.html









Charon





High resolution images

[Vaspinne]

I fucking love science

[Lucavi]

^ I can't not get giddy over this. How in the flying fuck do you accurately calculate directions -in space- for something that's taking a 9-year space trip?!

That is absolutely insane.

[BerenTebogo]

^ I can't not get giddy over this. How in the flying fuck do you accurately calculate directions -in space- for something that's taking a 9-year space trip?!

That is absolutely insane.

Compared to the rest of the calculations that went into getting the probe off earth and into constant velocity travel:

Very, very easily.

Edit: I suppose this warrants a slight bit more explanation. Even in our solar system we are dealing with predominantly empty space. Gravitational effects at the distances from the celestial bodies to the probe are nigh negligible (initial trajectory calculated accordingly so that it doesn't pass too close to say, Jupiter), and up to leading order all of the objects in the solar system can be taken to be in an equatorial plane.

So really this is how it goes: plot simulated path on computers -> run thousands and thousands of modified simulations based on x,y, z things until most probabilistically stable trajectory found -> deal with hassle of launching shit into space -> deal with hassle of adjusting initial position and velocity via small correctional bursts -> afk a decade during constant velocity travel.

Edit 2: looks like they actually put it on a path to slingshot it around jupiter. Cool. So you'll notice the path is basically two straight lines. e > j and j > peace out bitches.

http://youtu.be/4psXxa5v9Q8

[Lucavi]

Incredible... when my pea brain attempts to process the enormity of all of those calculations.

[Mazmaz]

So basically keep my anus clenched until July? Thanks for the heads up

[BaneTheBrawler]

like its not already


eagerly await the de-icing of the Mass Relay

[Titanss]

Compared to the rest of the calculations that went into getting the probe off earth and into constant velocity travel:

Very, very easily.

Edit: I suppose this warrants a slight bit more explanation. Even in our solar system we are dealing with predominantly empty space. Gravitational effects at the distances from the celestial bodies to the probe are nigh negligible (initial trajectory calculated accordingly so that it doesn't pass too close to say, Jupiter), and up to leading order all of the objects in the solar system can be taken to be in an equatorial plane.

So really this is how it goes: plot simulated path on computers -> run thousands and thousands of modified simulations based on x,y, z things until most probabilistically stable trajectory found -> deal with hassle of launching shit into space -> deal with hassle of adjusting initial position and velocity via small correctional bursts -> afk a decade during constant velocity travel.

Edit 2: looks like they actually put it on a path to slingshot it around jupiter. Cool. So you'll notice the path is basically two straight lines. e > j and j > peace out bitches.

http://youtu.be/4psXxa5v9Q8

what he said

[Outlaw]

Updated the thread with new information.

[Xno Kappa]

Definitely been keeping track of this. Two more weeks!

[Outlaw]

Today is the day!!

[Serra]

Less than 30 mins
Also, NASA stream:
http://www.ustream.tv/nasahdtv

[Outlaw]

OK, the thing at 7:30 a.m. was just to celebrate the moment New Horizons made it's closest approach. At 9:30 p.m. tonight is when we will get to see the photographs and hear about the data.

[Meph]

jesus, 42.6m viewers on ustream

[Necronus]

I really like the approach collage.

[Anoat]

Let me know when they discover the Mass Relay.

[TummieGaruda]

It's going to take about a year to get all of the data from the flyby. Also, here is a comparison between what hubble saw vs new horizons:

[Tokitoki]

That can't be Pluto. It isn't blue like it was in my science textbook in elementary/middle school.

[Xno Kappa]

Makes me wish I was Dr Manhattan to personally visit it lol.

[Dimmauk]

Makes me wish I was Dr Manhattan to personally visit it lol.

Maybe that is how that butt imprint got there?