Who else is excited about Pluto?

[Mugshot]

And if they walk amongst us?

I would hope they're trying to steer us in the right direction.

 

[Jimmy Doug]

More intriguing details of Pluto are coming through. First, Hubble has observed some very strange behaviour from its five moves, which move around the planet in ways not seen anywhere else. Second, more surface details are starting to emerge. There's a diagonal band across the planet that looks very like one of the 'canals' that had been discovered on Mars in the late 19th century. Could it be that Pluto has its own Valles Marineris?

 

[RedRider]

Excited by the erstwhile planet but it's a plutonic relationship.

 

[postman]

What have these two Galaxy's got in common. They have both got smaller,mine went to a 64cm frame.

 

[anothersam]

More intriguing details of Pluto are coming through. First, Hubble has observed some very strange behaviour from its five moons, which move around the planet in ways not seen anywhere else...

From the BBC link:

"If you can imagine what it would be like to live on [these moons], you would literally not know where the Sun was coming up tomorrow," said Mark Showalter from the Seti Institute, US.

"The Sun might rise in the west and set in the east. The Sun might rise in the west and set in the north for that matter.

"In fact, if you had real estate on the north pole… you might discover one day you’re on the south pole."

Showalter then gazed off into the distance, a smile tinged with sadness on his face, and said "The Earth's moon is soooo boring. It makes me wonder why we bothered to go. I would much prefer to navigate a manned mission through the lumpy gravity field of Charon, who if you will recall from Greek mythology ferried the dead to the underworld. Once the astronauts landed they could surf on the active cryogeysers on its surface using specially made surf boards. That would be so cool."

artist's impression:

Scientists point out that an unprotected surfer would have at most 10 seconds of increasingly uncomfortable surfing before the water in his body vaporised and his tongue began to boil. As always, the key is adequate hydration.

 

[anothersam]

Seriously, I do sometimes think about getting a telescope, though I imagine Pluto & partners would be somewhat beyond the capabilities of anything not anchored to the top of a mountain or floating in space. Don't have a clue about where to start...

 

[Jimmy Doug]

Don't have a clue about where to start...

A pair of binoculars, a star atlas and somewhere dark. Oh, and don't forget the thermos!

 

[anothersam]

Somewhere dark, no problem. The Royal Greenwich Observatory moved to nearby Herstmonceux in the 40s/50s to escape light pollution and the big smoke, so they liked it here too. (Eventually they moved on because the astronomers kept stumbling into the lily pond. And other reasons.) Funny to think of using the same binoculars I use to keep tabs on the local wildlife – I was thinking more in terms of those big tube-shaped things – but you're right of course, best to start small.

 

[Jimmy Doug]

Somewhere dark, no problem. The Royal Greenwich Observatory moved to nearby Herstmonceux in the 40s/50s to escape light pollution and the big smoke, so they liked it here too. (Eventually they moved on because the astronomers kept stumbling into the lily pond. And other reasons.) Funny to think of using the same binoculars I use to keep tabs on the local wildlife – I was thinking more in terms of those big tube-shaped things – but you're right of course, best to start small.

I'm no expert on field astronomy, but when I was a teenager it was a hobby of mine for a while (once got stopped by the police for suspicious behaviour in a field in the middle of the night - but that's another story!) Back then, and I imagine it's still the case today, the general advice to newbies was to use a pair of binoculars rather than one of those long tube-shaped things because in order to get a good image from a telescope you have to be prepared to invest quite a lot of money - cheap telescopes are worth nothing at all. You will need some sort of stand/tripod to keep them still though.

 

[jonny jeez]

Even though I find deep space exploration fascinating, it holds no real excitement for me and I can't get past feeling that the vast sums of money involved could be better spent here on this planet

Its a lot of cash but is dwarfed by the amount that we spend on crap we don't need and will chuck into landfill in 5 years.
I think, despite its costs, exploring beyond the parochial view is one of the things that separates us from other species and will ....someday pay huge dividend's.

 

[Gravity Aided]

I'm no expert on field astronomy, but when I was a teenager it was a hobby of mine for a while (once got stopped by the police for suspicious behaviour in a field in the middle of the night - but that's another story!) Back then, and I imagine it's still the case today, the general advice to newbies was to use a pair of binoculars rather than one of those long tube-shaped things because in order to get a good image from a telescope you have to be prepared to invest quite a lot of money - cheap telescopes are worth nothing at all. You will need some sort of stand/tripod to keep them still though.

Having sold all the same in a previous career, I can advise the use of good binoculars over an inexpensive telescope, although you may also want a tripod adapter for the binoculars. Good binoculars from Ziess or Leitz will serve you and succeeding generations well in all distance viewing needs, with crispness and clarity not to be found in cheaper binoculars. Many other makes out there, but you need to compare. I find that Asian binocular glass does not offer the same quality as European glass. Buy good, buy once. Go to a planetarium or a big telescope now and again. But most personal telescopes won't offer great magnification and quality without great investment. that would cut into the bicycle budget.

 

[mustang1]

@Jimmy: this is one if the best posts I've read for a long time. Thank you for this post.

I would like to have an interest in astronomy but I have other hobbies that take up my time.

As a kid, I was told there are 9 planets and no amount of re-classificatiin will change my mind. I've never had the same excitement as you about Pluto but as a kid wondered if that really was the last planet in the system.

 

[Jimmy Doug]

@Jimmy: I've never had the same excitement as you about Pluto but as a kid wondered if that really was the last planet in the system.

Planets are like members of the opposite sex. It's difficult to get excited about them if you've never seen their face.

 

[Profpointy]

Having sold all the same in a previous career, I can advise the use of good binoculars over an inexpensive telescope, although you may also want a tripod adapter for the binoculars. Good binoculars from Ziess or Leitz will serve you and succeeding generations well in all distance viewing needs, with crispness and clarity not to be found in cheaper binoculars. Many other makes out there, but you need to compare. I find that Asian binocular glass does not offer the same quality as European glass. Buy good, buy once. Go to a planetarium or a big telescope now and again. But most personal telescopes won't offer great magnification and quality without great investment. that would cut into the bicycle budget.

Zeiss and Leica binoculars, nice though they are, are astonishingly expensive. I indulged myself with a pair of 8x40 leicas, which are indeed lovely, but are far into the diminishing returns end of the value scale, even 2nd hand as mine were. A well respected Jap pair from Nikon or whoever would be a fraction of the price, and I'd suggest only slightly inferior. Don't buy cheap crap obviously, but I'd not see best part of a grand (new) for a pair of 'nocs a sensible beginner purchase. You're well on the way to a usable telescope for that. A 4" refractor, even an "apo" wouldn't be much more than the nocs albeit there's eypieces to worry about etc.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Eyepieces, tripod,clock drive,star finder, celestial maps,all make full Campy look like a visit to a piggy bank by comparison. European glass has better color depth and contrast. Look through both and see. If you are happy,go with whatever suits.