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originally posted by: stormbringer1701
In an article today several things were revealed. Firstly; there is probably a second planet orbiting Alpha Centauri B a little farther out than The now disputed AB b. Secondly Hubble could probably see this baby but that isn't going to happen because it would take at least twenty days of staring at that target and nothing else. This means planets with longer orbital periods are even less likely to be found unless they are giants. Thirdly; a satellite that could be dedicated to stalking planets in Alpha centauri would cost as little as 2 million. That's NASA couch and car seat change to do. it could even be crowd funded. it is certainly something private uni's could do without even missing the money. Alpha Centauri and its cohort (alpha proxima, Rigel Kentaurus, Alpha Centauri B) are the most urgent of subjects because if we do find something there we CAN actually do something about that with realistic technology. Yet They have been ignored neglected dismissed as uninteresting...
www.newscientist.com...
The time has come to stop screwing around and do something vital to science. The very minute we find and verify an interesting planet in alpha centauri is the moment every space capable government, corporation, university and rich persons (branson, Bigalowe, etc) begins researching and designing advanced propulsion systems to get there.
For the (many times less than the ) price of an unnecessary extravagant entrance foyer built incessantly by puffed up universities the world over it could have already been done.
originally posted by: Xeven
Nasa was given for free two Hubble equivalent space telescopes a few years ago by the NSA. Seems this would be a good mission for one of them. Just need a Rocket and update the electronics. Read below
Space.com
originally posted by: raikata
Just had to..
Actually, I would like to add something. Where I come from, investing in science is totally neglected by the government. I mean, my country is one of the two countries that are part of the EU but are not part of the ESA. Being part of the ESA costs the state annually like 1 mln euro and you basically get your money back every year. And I read your thread and you say 2 mln. euro like it's nothing. Which it actually is. I am sure that a project like this could be easily publicly funded.
oh very easily. i could see any number of individuals in America, the UK, Europe, Russia, Japan, China and the Middle East doing this in a heartbeat just for the prestige or naming rights and even Crowd funding would likely easily succeed.
originally posted by: DuckforcoveR
Yeah you'd think a billionaire (or muti-millionaire) could help foot the bill in exchange for naming rights or something.
It would be historic should it find something. "The Bill Gates eye in the sky discovered what came to be known as Earth Part Deux (probably need a better name)
a reply to: stormbringer1701
originally posted by: Aliensun
a reply to: stormbringer1701
After all of the original lies we heard originally about what the Hubble could and could not image, I cannot believe their explanation. It is worded to indicate that they can image it, but it would take too long for it to ascertain the orbit. I would want a good explanation for that. After all, it is the star closest to us. Is the Kepler not able to pick up a planet around Alpha Centuri when it picks them up all around the galaxy?
"Terra Nova"
originally posted by: DuckforcoveR
Yeah you'd think a billionaire (or muti-millionaire) could help foot the bill in exchange for naming rights or something.
It would be historic should it find something. "The Bill Gates eye in the sky discovered what came to be known as Earth Part Deux (probably need a better name)
a reply to: stormbringer1701
originally posted by: stormbringer1701
originally posted by: Aliensun
a reply to: stormbringer1701
After all of the original lies we heard originally about what the Hubble could and could not image, I cannot believe their explanation. It is worded to indicate that they can image it, but it would take too long for it to ascertain the orbit. I would want a good explanation for that. After all, it is the star closest to us. Is the Kepler not able to pick up a planet around Alpha Centuri when it picks them up all around the galaxy?
There are others that could explain it better than me but there are two issues:
Hubble is a shared instrument and there is a governing body that allocates the observation time for all the astronomers that have access. observing time is divided into small intervals of time for any one entity wanting to use it. 20 days is a looooooong time in which the other authorized users are locked out of observation time. So it is not gonna happen. you need twenty days to ensure watching at a time when the planet is moving in front of the star if it is a transiting planet.
i am not entirely sure they can directly image the planet at the resolution available to Hubble so it is likely they would have to rely on a transit to verify the planet is there.
it is even worse if the planet has a larger orbital period.
...perhaps that is true in the public domain. I am pretty sure that if they are concerned with credible UFO incidents they are investigating though we may never hear of it beyond rumors, speculation and in the fringe.
originally posted by: Aliensun
originally posted by: stormbringer1701
originally posted by: Aliensun
a reply to: stormbringer1701
After all of the original lies we heard originally about what the Hubble could and could not image, I cannot believe their explanation. It is worded to indicate that they can image it, but it would take too long for it to ascertain the orbit. I would want a good explanation for that. After all, it is the star closest to us. Is the Kepler not able to pick up a planet around Alpha Centuri when it picks them up all around the galaxy?
There are others that could explain it better than me but there are two issues:
Hubble is a shared instrument and there is a governing body that allocates the observation time for all the astronomers that have access. observing time is divided into small intervals of time for any one entity wanting to use it. 20 days is a looooooong time in which the other authorized users are locked out of observation time. So it is not gonna happen. you need twenty days to ensure watching at a time when the planet is moving in front of the star if it is a transiting planet.
i am not entirely sure they can directly image the planet at the resolution available to Hubble so it is likely they would have to rely on a transit to verify the planet is there.
it is even worse if the planet has a larger orbital period.
Perhaps your last line in the OP is indicative of where the problem really is:
"Yet They have been ignored neglected dismissed as uninteresting."
This opinion you offer on the excuses from the establishment echos exactly the stated views why an intense, deadly serious (and public) investigation has never been done about UFOs.
if we find a planet with so much as the signature of a fish tank algae on it it will cause a leap of space technology almost immediately to rival the technical fall out of world wars with out all the death and misery.
originally posted by: FalcoFan
a reply to: stormbringer1701
I'm all for it.
We need to learn as much as possible about our neighboring stars.
originally posted by: stormbringer1701
Alpha Centauri and its cohort (alpha proxima, Rigel Kentaurus, Alpha Centauri B) are the most urgent of subjects because if we do find something there we CAN actually do something about that with realistic technology. Yet They have been ignored neglected dismissed as uninteresting...
The time has come to stop screwing around and do something vital to science. The very minute we find and verify an interesting planet in alpha centauri is the moment every space capable government, corporation, university and rich persons (branson, Bigalowe, etc) begins researching and designing advanced propulsion systems to get there.
originally posted by: Abednego
originally posted by: stormbringer1701
Alpha Centauri and its cohort (alpha proxima, Rigel Kentaurus, Alpha Centauri B) are the most urgent of subjects because if we do find something there we CAN actually do something about that with realistic technology. Yet They have been ignored neglected dismissed as uninteresting...
The time has come to stop screwing around and do something vital to science. The very minute we find and verify an interesting planet in alpha centauri is the moment every space capable government, corporation, university and rich persons (branson, Bigalowe, etc) begins researching and designing advanced propulsion systems to get there.
Who says they are not doing it? But keeping it in silence.
originally posted by: stormbringer1701
originally posted by: Abednego
originally posted by: stormbringer1701
Alpha Centauri and its cohort (alpha proxima, Rigel Kentaurus, Alpha Centauri B) are the most urgent of subjects because if we do find something there we CAN actually do something about that with realistic technology. Yet They have been ignored neglected dismissed as uninteresting...
The time has come to stop screwing around and do something vital to science. The very minute we find and verify an interesting planet in alpha centauri is the moment every space capable government, corporation, university and rich persons (branson, Bigalowe, etc) begins researching and designing advanced propulsion systems to get there.
Who says they are not doing it? But keeping it in silence.
Advanced propulsion or find a place to go with that propulsion?
I know of one credible private effort for advanced propulsion; but the gentleman involved is a septagenarian fighting two forms of stage 4 cancer. other than that there are a couple of semi private efforts for fusion powered space craft. the rest are marginalized garden workshop laboratory types with questionable theories and wild eyed tales.