Quote from: Sesquipedalian on 02/05/2015 02:21 pmSadly this isn't a real-life mission, but it is an extremely cool concept. I had no idea until watching that how truly far away Eris is.I doubt Eris will get any immediate visits for a long while. Regarding the video, a very nice fly-by vehicle. I certainly would like to see something like that sent to either Uranus or Neptune, more specifically the later since there's a vague chance Uranus might get a full fledged orbiter in the next two decades.
Sadly this isn't a real-life mission, but it is an extremely cool concept. I had no idea until watching that how truly far away Eris is.
I doubt Eris will get any immediate visits for a long while. Regarding the video, a very nice fly-by vehicle. I certainly would like to see something like that sent to either Uranus or Neptune, more specifically the later since there's a vague chance Uranus might get a full fledged orbiter in the next two decades.
My hope is that the Pluto encounter is sufficiently fascinating to add weight to the argument that we need closer study of Triton (probably the only KBO that we can realistically study in any detail). It's a weak daydream, I know, but a boy can still dream, right?Keep in mind that Uranus was only in the decadal survey because Neptune is not an option this time due to location/trajectories. Neptune and Uranus rank equally in terms of scientific interest. I think Uranus edges out Neptune because it is closer, but ice giant scientists could flip a coin and take either one.
Given the huge number of exoplanets discovered in recent years, the discovery of two new planets would come as no surprise—except that these two, discussed in a new study, may be part of our Solar System.The presence of the closer of the two planets had already been suggested in a previous work. The new study provides more evidence for its existence and adds a second planet. Both studies are based on observations of objects far beyond Neptune’s orbit, called extreme trans-Neptunian objects (ETNOs). These ETNOs display shared patterns in their orbits, which suggests they’re all being influenced gravitationally by heavier objects, much further away from the Sun.While this conclusion is based on a small sample (13 bodies), the authors confirm that their results are statistically significant and that at least two planets, orbiting far beyond Pluto’s orbit, are the most likely explanation for the observations.
We can't see any smaller bodies, so our normal models are based on them not being there at all.
Does New Horizons have a mode where it can search for new small bodies near it's path?
Quote from: redliox on 02/05/2015 12:24 amBarring an insisted-upon expedition to ErisWe have one of those launching in November, actually.
Barring an insisted-upon expedition to Eris
Just out of interest, did you calculate how long it would take the probe to reach the heliosheath - the eletromagnetic edge of the solar system?
http://arstechnica.com/science/2015/01/the-solar-system-may-have-two-undiscovered-planets/QuoteGiven the huge number of exoplanets discovered in recent years, the discovery of two new planets would come as no surprise—except that these two, discussed in a new study, may be part of our Solar System.The presence of the closer of the two planets had already been suggested in a previous work. The new study provides more evidence for its existence and adds a second planet. Both studies are based on observations of objects far beyond Neptune’s orbit, called extreme trans-Neptunian objects (ETNOs). These ETNOs display shared patterns in their orbits, which suggests they’re all being influenced gravitationally by heavier objects, much further away from the Sun.While this conclusion is based on a small sample (13 bodies), the authors confirm that their results are statistically significant and that at least two planets, orbiting far beyond Pluto’s orbit, are the most likely explanation for the observations.
Given that Hubble searched pretty thoroughly in that area, would we expect to have seen them if one of those planets if it was in that field of view? Or would you need to use Spitzer (IR telescope)? Or do we even have a telescope that could do it.
Quote from: mikelepage on 02/09/2015 01:54 pmGiven that Hubble searched pretty thoroughly in that area, would we expect to have seen them if one of those planets if it was in that field of view? Or would you need to use Spitzer (IR telescope)? Or do we even have a telescope that could do it.If there was something out there, we'd already have it somewhere in the IRSA archive's all-sky catalogues.
Maybe he meant that it would have been captured, but not noticed.
Just 1 hour ago NH made its 1st homing burn to target Pluto. News is speeding to Earth @ the speed of light, arrival ~11:45 Eastern Time.