New Horizons takes our first ever half-decent image of Pluto, prepares for flyby - Polidicks

[QUOTE=Swebonny;48203026]A gas planet doesn't imply that the entire planet is non-solid. It still has a significant solid part, including its core.[/QUOTE] I've always wondered if it's possible to reach a solid part or an ocean on Jupiter without being wrecked by the immense pressure and gravity.

[QUOTE=paul simon;48203054]I've always wondered if it's possible to reach a solid part or an ocean on Jupiter without being wrecked by the immense pressure and gravity.[/QUOTE] So far, no.

[QUOTE=paul simon;48203054]I've always wondered if it's possible to reach a solid part or an ocean on Jupiter without being wrecked by the immense pressure and gravity.[/QUOTE] If you can survive 2,000,000 atm pressure and 17,500 F, then sure: [url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jupiter#Internal_structure[/url]

Now that we've visited all the planets (and almost all their moons), I say we begin landing on them. I know delta-V is a big issue so what's keeping us from simply a longer mission with less gravity assists? Or even, if we're clever enough, gravity assist on Neptune to slow our delta-V into Pluto orbit capture? I'd assume that take alot of planning and the window for that would be years from now for Neptune to be in the ideal position.

[QUOTE=Pelf;48203349]If you can survive 2,000,000 atm pressure and 17,500 F, then sure: [url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jupiter#Internal_structure[/url][/QUOTE] jupiter is basically a star. [editline]14th July 2015[/editline] a really shitty one.

[QUOTE=Tmaxx;48204556]jupiter is basically a star. [editline]14th July 2015[/editline] a really shitty one.[/QUOTE] It's more just that stars are really, really, really, really, really big planet-y type things made only of gas because nothing else can even exist within them without being torn apart on a molecular level.

Update: New Horizons has checked in with mission control giving an a-ok status on all instruments! Data transmission will begin overnight and will continue for the next year and a half.

[QUOTE=CoolCorky;48208022]Update: New Horizons has checked in with mission control giving an a-ok status on all instruments! Data transmission will begin overnight and will continue for the next year and a half.[/QUOTE] Is it set to send any more photos?

Yes of course, the best is yet to come. [editline]15th July 2015[/editline] There will even be mosaic images with details as high as 0.3km/pixel.

[QUOTE=Swebonny;48208428]Yes of course, the best is yet to come. [editline]15th July 2015[/editline] There will even be mosaic images with details as high as 0.3km/pixel.[/QUOTE] I heard that it took 60 images at 0.076 km/px resolution. I'll try and find where I saw that. [editline]14th July 2015[/editline] Yep, here: [url]http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/Mission/The-Flyby.php[/url] [QUOTE][B]July 14 07:58:30 EDT [/B]New Horizons is taking 60 images of Pluto with LORRI from 15386.759 km away at est. resolution 0.076 km/pix.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=smurfy;48200029]Does this look like something from a 1950s scifi TV show to anyone else? [img]http://imgkk.com/i/gf2x.png[/img][/QUOTE] nah it looks more like a 1930s romantic comedy

Absolutely cannot wait to see some great pictures of Pluto.

[QUOTE=Jamsponge;48206771]It's more just that stars are really, really, really, really, really big planet-y type things made only of gas because nothing else can even exist within them without being torn apart on a molecular level.[/QUOTE] Actually the distinction is that stars carry out ¹H fusion. Anything smaller than roughly 0.08 solar masses will not have sufficient mass to fuse ¹H and is classed as a brown dwarf. The difference between a brown dwarf and a really big gas giant is still being debated.

I hope they're able to get enough neat pictures given the time window is so small

[QUOTE=Pelf;48208651]I heard that it took 60 images at 0.076 km/px resolution. I'll try and find where I saw that. [editline]14th July 2015[/editline] Yep, here: [url]http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/Mission/The-Flyby.php[/url][/QUOTE] Wow, that's pretty damn detailed. Can't wait for those pictures.

Imagining myself being alone on a ship by Pluto gives me a feeling of soul crushing loneliness, and I'm very asocial. It would be peaceful though, and beautiful.

NASA will hold a media briefing 57 minutes after this post, to reveal the first photos from the flyby. Here's the NASATV stream: [media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyMOYHiatos[/media] We're expecting three images, one each of Pluto, Charon, and Hydra. This will be our first ever proper look at Hydra, as this is the best photo we currently have: [img]http://imgkk.com/i/ytne.jpg[/img] The rest of the images will download over the coming days and weeks (in JPEG), and then it will take about a year to download the full lossless versions of the photos. [url=http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2015/06240556-what-to-expect-new-horizons-pluto.html]A full write-up on the download schedule can be found here[/url]. NASA staff looking at the photos: [t]http://i.imgur.com/X05Yj58.png[/t]

[QUOTE=smurfy;48213801]NASA will hold a media briefing 57 minutes after this post, to reveal the first photos from the flyby. Here's the NASATV stream: [media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyMOYHiatos[/media] We're expecting three images, one each of Pluto, Charon, and Hydra. This will be our first ever proper look at Hydra, as this is the best photo we currently have: [img]http://imgkk.com/i/ytne.jpg[/img] The rest of the images will download over the coming days and weeks (in JPEG), and then it will take about a year to download the full lossless versions of the photos. [url=http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2015/06240556-what-to-expect-new-horizons-pluto.html]A full write-up on the download schedule can be found here[/url]. NASA staff looking at the photos: [t]http://i.imgur.com/X05Yj58.png[/t][/QUOTE] Huh, water ice mountains and active geology without a massive gravitational stress? Interesting.

#plutoflyby why not #plutodriveby

[QUOTE=Ithon;48214806]#plutoflyby why not #plutodriveby[/QUOTE] We're floating past, telling it that it's not a planet, and it's not even special enough to be worth landing on. Isn't that enough of a wound?

So would New Horizons come into range of any of the other TNOs?

[QUOTE=AbioFlesh;48215353]So would New Horizons come into range of any of the other TNOs?[/QUOTE] Yep, two potential targets have been found in the Kuiper belt and a decision is expected on which one to send it to within the next few months. In either case, the flyby will take place in 2019. [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_MU69]Candidate PT1[/url] requires less fuel to get to, but is smaller and so potentially less interesting [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_PN70]Candidate PT3[/url] is larger but needs more fuel, so there's less room for corrections if something goes wrong There were a couple of other candidates but they've been ruled out already.

Mountains of Pluto: [thumb]http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/Multimedia/Science-Photos/pics/nh-pluto-surface-scale.jpg[/thumb] Charon up-close: [thumb]http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/Multimedia/Science-Photos/pics/nh-charon.jpg[/thumb]

That looks like a mondo impact crater on the dark side of Charon.

[QUOTE=A B.A. Survivor;48215523]That looks like a mondo impact crater on the dark side of Charon.[/QUOTE] It is named Mordor