What angular resolution is expected during New Horizon's flyby of Ultima Thule?
Ultima Thule is thought to be about 20 miles (30 km) across. However, I can't seem to find any detail about approach distance or typical image resolution of New Horizons in regards to the second target.
What I am interested in, is that Pluto is fairly larger as compared to Ultima Thule, we also knew a lot more about it before we got there. What meter/pixel resolution could we expect to get from such a small target?
probe imaging new-horizons
New contributor
add a comment |
Ultima Thule is thought to be about 20 miles (30 km) across. However, I can't seem to find any detail about approach distance or typical image resolution of New Horizons in regards to the second target.
What I am interested in, is that Pluto is fairly larger as compared to Ultima Thule, we also knew a lot more about it before we got there. What meter/pixel resolution could we expect to get from such a small target?
probe imaging new-horizons
New contributor
Can you clarify the second paragraph? In particular, the third clause of the first sentence is confusing in context, seems out of place, and is a bit of a non sequitur.
– Alex Hajnal
6 mins ago
add a comment |
Ultima Thule is thought to be about 20 miles (30 km) across. However, I can't seem to find any detail about approach distance or typical image resolution of New Horizons in regards to the second target.
What I am interested in, is that Pluto is fairly larger as compared to Ultima Thule, we also knew a lot more about it before we got there. What meter/pixel resolution could we expect to get from such a small target?
probe imaging new-horizons
New contributor
Ultima Thule is thought to be about 20 miles (30 km) across. However, I can't seem to find any detail about approach distance or typical image resolution of New Horizons in regards to the second target.
What I am interested in, is that Pluto is fairly larger as compared to Ultima Thule, we also knew a lot more about it before we got there. What meter/pixel resolution could we expect to get from such a small target?
probe imaging new-horizons
probe imaging new-horizons
New contributor
New contributor
edited 10 mins ago
Alex Hajnal
908313
908313
New contributor
asked 1 hour ago
TheGeneral
1134
1134
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New contributor
Can you clarify the second paragraph? In particular, the third clause of the first sentence is confusing in context, seems out of place, and is a bit of a non sequitur.
– Alex Hajnal
6 mins ago
add a comment |
Can you clarify the second paragraph? In particular, the third clause of the first sentence is confusing in context, seems out of place, and is a bit of a non sequitur.
– Alex Hajnal
6 mins ago
Can you clarify the second paragraph? In particular, the third clause of the first sentence is confusing in context, seems out of place, and is a bit of a non sequitur.
– Alex Hajnal
6 mins ago
Can you clarify the second paragraph? In particular, the third clause of the first sentence is confusing in context, seems out of place, and is a bit of a non sequitur.
– Alex Hajnal
6 mins ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
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I was gathering data to do the math and came across this:
New Horizons is planned to come within 3,500 km (2,200 mi) of 2014 MU69, three times closer than the spacecraft's earlier encounter with Pluto. Images with a resolution as fine as 30 m (98 ft) to 70 m (230 ft) are expected.[
49[1]][62[2]]
Source: (486958) 2014 MU69, Wikipedia
Various estimates of 2014 MU69's diameter have been made:
- 25–45 km 3
- 30 km or binary pair of 15 to 20 km each 4
- 30–45 km 5
Source: ibid, as cited
Note that "Ultima Thule" is currently just a nickname for 2014 MU69. As partially quoted on the above-linked Wikipedia page:
[W]e’re going to give 2014 MU69 [sic] a real name, rather than just the “license plate” designator it has now. The details of how we’ll name it are still being worked out, but NASA announced a few weeks back that it will involve a public naming contest. [6]
Another source7 adds:
After the flyby, NASA and the New Horizons team will choose a formal name to submit to the International Astronomical Union, based in part on whether MU69 [sic] is found to be a single body, a binary pair, or perhaps a system of multiple objects.
Citations:
1 Green, Jim (12 December 2017), New Horizons Explores the Kuiper Belt, 2017 American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting in New Orleans: 12–15.
(PDF)
2 Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (2017), New Horizons Files Flight Plan for 2019 Flyby, 6 September 2017, web page, retrieved 2018-12-27.
3 Buie, Marc (15 October 2014), New Horizons HST KBO Search Results: Status Report, Space Telescope Science Institute, 23.
(PDF)
4 Bill Keeter (3 August 2017), New Horizons' Next Target Just Got a Lot More Interesting, NASA, web page, retrieved 2018-12-27.
5 Lakdawalla, Emily (15 October 2014), Finally! New Horizons has a second target, Planetary Society blog, Planetary Society, web page, retrieved 2017-12-27.
6 Stern, Alan (28 April 2017), No Sleeping Back on Earth!, NASA, web page, retrieved 2017-12-27.
7 Tricia Talbert (13 March 2018), New Horizons Chooses Nickname for 'Ultimate' Flyby Target, NASA, web page, retrieved 2017-12-27.
Thanks for that info, exactly what i was looking for!
– TheGeneral
42 mins ago
Remarkable citation style.
– Boosted Nub
27 mins ago
1
@BoostedNub How so? You mean mixing inline and numbered citations? I don't consider Wikipedia authoritative so I typically don't provide full, formal citations when I reference it (just links and acknowledgement).
– Alex Hajnal
27 mins ago
If I were writing a formal research paper it would be different though; everything would get a proper citation, Wikipedia included. Note that given its non-authoritative nature, Wikipedia should never be used as a primary source in any serious paper. (It can be useful for tracking down primary sources though.)
– Alex Hajnal
1 min ago
add a comment |
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I was gathering data to do the math and came across this:
New Horizons is planned to come within 3,500 km (2,200 mi) of 2014 MU69, three times closer than the spacecraft's earlier encounter with Pluto. Images with a resolution as fine as 30 m (98 ft) to 70 m (230 ft) are expected.[
49[1]][62[2]]
Source: (486958) 2014 MU69, Wikipedia
Various estimates of 2014 MU69's diameter have been made:
- 25–45 km 3
- 30 km or binary pair of 15 to 20 km each 4
- 30–45 km 5
Source: ibid, as cited
Note that "Ultima Thule" is currently just a nickname for 2014 MU69. As partially quoted on the above-linked Wikipedia page:
[W]e’re going to give 2014 MU69 [sic] a real name, rather than just the “license plate” designator it has now. The details of how we’ll name it are still being worked out, but NASA announced a few weeks back that it will involve a public naming contest. [6]
Another source7 adds:
After the flyby, NASA and the New Horizons team will choose a formal name to submit to the International Astronomical Union, based in part on whether MU69 [sic] is found to be a single body, a binary pair, or perhaps a system of multiple objects.
Citations:
1 Green, Jim (12 December 2017), New Horizons Explores the Kuiper Belt, 2017 American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting in New Orleans: 12–15.
(PDF)
2 Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (2017), New Horizons Files Flight Plan for 2019 Flyby, 6 September 2017, web page, retrieved 2018-12-27.
3 Buie, Marc (15 October 2014), New Horizons HST KBO Search Results: Status Report, Space Telescope Science Institute, 23.
(PDF)
4 Bill Keeter (3 August 2017), New Horizons' Next Target Just Got a Lot More Interesting, NASA, web page, retrieved 2018-12-27.
5 Lakdawalla, Emily (15 October 2014), Finally! New Horizons has a second target, Planetary Society blog, Planetary Society, web page, retrieved 2017-12-27.
6 Stern, Alan (28 April 2017), No Sleeping Back on Earth!, NASA, web page, retrieved 2017-12-27.
7 Tricia Talbert (13 March 2018), New Horizons Chooses Nickname for 'Ultimate' Flyby Target, NASA, web page, retrieved 2017-12-27.
Thanks for that info, exactly what i was looking for!
– TheGeneral
42 mins ago
Remarkable citation style.
– Boosted Nub
27 mins ago
1
@BoostedNub How so? You mean mixing inline and numbered citations? I don't consider Wikipedia authoritative so I typically don't provide full, formal citations when I reference it (just links and acknowledgement).
– Alex Hajnal
27 mins ago
If I were writing a formal research paper it would be different though; everything would get a proper citation, Wikipedia included. Note that given its non-authoritative nature, Wikipedia should never be used as a primary source in any serious paper. (It can be useful for tracking down primary sources though.)
– Alex Hajnal
1 min ago
add a comment |
I was gathering data to do the math and came across this:
New Horizons is planned to come within 3,500 km (2,200 mi) of 2014 MU69, three times closer than the spacecraft's earlier encounter with Pluto. Images with a resolution as fine as 30 m (98 ft) to 70 m (230 ft) are expected.[
49[1]][62[2]]
Source: (486958) 2014 MU69, Wikipedia
Various estimates of 2014 MU69's diameter have been made:
- 25–45 km 3
- 30 km or binary pair of 15 to 20 km each 4
- 30–45 km 5
Source: ibid, as cited
Note that "Ultima Thule" is currently just a nickname for 2014 MU69. As partially quoted on the above-linked Wikipedia page:
[W]e’re going to give 2014 MU69 [sic] a real name, rather than just the “license plate” designator it has now. The details of how we’ll name it are still being worked out, but NASA announced a few weeks back that it will involve a public naming contest. [6]
Another source7 adds:
After the flyby, NASA and the New Horizons team will choose a formal name to submit to the International Astronomical Union, based in part on whether MU69 [sic] is found to be a single body, a binary pair, or perhaps a system of multiple objects.
Citations:
1 Green, Jim (12 December 2017), New Horizons Explores the Kuiper Belt, 2017 American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting in New Orleans: 12–15.
(PDF)
2 Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (2017), New Horizons Files Flight Plan for 2019 Flyby, 6 September 2017, web page, retrieved 2018-12-27.
3 Buie, Marc (15 October 2014), New Horizons HST KBO Search Results: Status Report, Space Telescope Science Institute, 23.
(PDF)
4 Bill Keeter (3 August 2017), New Horizons' Next Target Just Got a Lot More Interesting, NASA, web page, retrieved 2018-12-27.
5 Lakdawalla, Emily (15 October 2014), Finally! New Horizons has a second target, Planetary Society blog, Planetary Society, web page, retrieved 2017-12-27.
6 Stern, Alan (28 April 2017), No Sleeping Back on Earth!, NASA, web page, retrieved 2017-12-27.
7 Tricia Talbert (13 March 2018), New Horizons Chooses Nickname for 'Ultimate' Flyby Target, NASA, web page, retrieved 2017-12-27.
Thanks for that info, exactly what i was looking for!
– TheGeneral
42 mins ago
Remarkable citation style.
– Boosted Nub
27 mins ago
1
@BoostedNub How so? You mean mixing inline and numbered citations? I don't consider Wikipedia authoritative so I typically don't provide full, formal citations when I reference it (just links and acknowledgement).
– Alex Hajnal
27 mins ago
If I were writing a formal research paper it would be different though; everything would get a proper citation, Wikipedia included. Note that given its non-authoritative nature, Wikipedia should never be used as a primary source in any serious paper. (It can be useful for tracking down primary sources though.)
– Alex Hajnal
1 min ago
add a comment |
I was gathering data to do the math and came across this:
New Horizons is planned to come within 3,500 km (2,200 mi) of 2014 MU69, three times closer than the spacecraft's earlier encounter with Pluto. Images with a resolution as fine as 30 m (98 ft) to 70 m (230 ft) are expected.[
49[1]][62[2]]
Source: (486958) 2014 MU69, Wikipedia
Various estimates of 2014 MU69's diameter have been made:
- 25–45 km 3
- 30 km or binary pair of 15 to 20 km each 4
- 30–45 km 5
Source: ibid, as cited
Note that "Ultima Thule" is currently just a nickname for 2014 MU69. As partially quoted on the above-linked Wikipedia page:
[W]e’re going to give 2014 MU69 [sic] a real name, rather than just the “license plate” designator it has now. The details of how we’ll name it are still being worked out, but NASA announced a few weeks back that it will involve a public naming contest. [6]
Another source7 adds:
After the flyby, NASA and the New Horizons team will choose a formal name to submit to the International Astronomical Union, based in part on whether MU69 [sic] is found to be a single body, a binary pair, or perhaps a system of multiple objects.
Citations:
1 Green, Jim (12 December 2017), New Horizons Explores the Kuiper Belt, 2017 American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting in New Orleans: 12–15.
(PDF)
2 Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (2017), New Horizons Files Flight Plan for 2019 Flyby, 6 September 2017, web page, retrieved 2018-12-27.
3 Buie, Marc (15 October 2014), New Horizons HST KBO Search Results: Status Report, Space Telescope Science Institute, 23.
(PDF)
4 Bill Keeter (3 August 2017), New Horizons' Next Target Just Got a Lot More Interesting, NASA, web page, retrieved 2018-12-27.
5 Lakdawalla, Emily (15 October 2014), Finally! New Horizons has a second target, Planetary Society blog, Planetary Society, web page, retrieved 2017-12-27.
6 Stern, Alan (28 April 2017), No Sleeping Back on Earth!, NASA, web page, retrieved 2017-12-27.
7 Tricia Talbert (13 March 2018), New Horizons Chooses Nickname for 'Ultimate' Flyby Target, NASA, web page, retrieved 2017-12-27.
I was gathering data to do the math and came across this:
New Horizons is planned to come within 3,500 km (2,200 mi) of 2014 MU69, three times closer than the spacecraft's earlier encounter with Pluto. Images with a resolution as fine as 30 m (98 ft) to 70 m (230 ft) are expected.[
49[1]][62[2]]
Source: (486958) 2014 MU69, Wikipedia
Various estimates of 2014 MU69's diameter have been made:
- 25–45 km 3
- 30 km or binary pair of 15 to 20 km each 4
- 30–45 km 5
Source: ibid, as cited
Note that "Ultima Thule" is currently just a nickname for 2014 MU69. As partially quoted on the above-linked Wikipedia page:
[W]e’re going to give 2014 MU69 [sic] a real name, rather than just the “license plate” designator it has now. The details of how we’ll name it are still being worked out, but NASA announced a few weeks back that it will involve a public naming contest. [6]
Another source7 adds:
After the flyby, NASA and the New Horizons team will choose a formal name to submit to the International Astronomical Union, based in part on whether MU69 [sic] is found to be a single body, a binary pair, or perhaps a system of multiple objects.
Citations:
1 Green, Jim (12 December 2017), New Horizons Explores the Kuiper Belt, 2017 American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting in New Orleans: 12–15.
(PDF)
2 Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (2017), New Horizons Files Flight Plan for 2019 Flyby, 6 September 2017, web page, retrieved 2018-12-27.
3 Buie, Marc (15 October 2014), New Horizons HST KBO Search Results: Status Report, Space Telescope Science Institute, 23.
(PDF)
4 Bill Keeter (3 August 2017), New Horizons' Next Target Just Got a Lot More Interesting, NASA, web page, retrieved 2018-12-27.
5 Lakdawalla, Emily (15 October 2014), Finally! New Horizons has a second target, Planetary Society blog, Planetary Society, web page, retrieved 2017-12-27.
6 Stern, Alan (28 April 2017), No Sleeping Back on Earth!, NASA, web page, retrieved 2017-12-27.
7 Tricia Talbert (13 March 2018), New Horizons Chooses Nickname for 'Ultimate' Flyby Target, NASA, web page, retrieved 2017-12-27.
edited 32 mins ago
answered 54 mins ago
Alex Hajnal
908313
908313
Thanks for that info, exactly what i was looking for!
– TheGeneral
42 mins ago
Remarkable citation style.
– Boosted Nub
27 mins ago
1
@BoostedNub How so? You mean mixing inline and numbered citations? I don't consider Wikipedia authoritative so I typically don't provide full, formal citations when I reference it (just links and acknowledgement).
– Alex Hajnal
27 mins ago
If I were writing a formal research paper it would be different though; everything would get a proper citation, Wikipedia included. Note that given its non-authoritative nature, Wikipedia should never be used as a primary source in any serious paper. (It can be useful for tracking down primary sources though.)
– Alex Hajnal
1 min ago
add a comment |
Thanks for that info, exactly what i was looking for!
– TheGeneral
42 mins ago
Remarkable citation style.
– Boosted Nub
27 mins ago
1
@BoostedNub How so? You mean mixing inline and numbered citations? I don't consider Wikipedia authoritative so I typically don't provide full, formal citations when I reference it (just links and acknowledgement).
– Alex Hajnal
27 mins ago
If I were writing a formal research paper it would be different though; everything would get a proper citation, Wikipedia included. Note that given its non-authoritative nature, Wikipedia should never be used as a primary source in any serious paper. (It can be useful for tracking down primary sources though.)
– Alex Hajnal
1 min ago
Thanks for that info, exactly what i was looking for!
– TheGeneral
42 mins ago
Thanks for that info, exactly what i was looking for!
– TheGeneral
42 mins ago
Remarkable citation style.
– Boosted Nub
27 mins ago
Remarkable citation style.
– Boosted Nub
27 mins ago
1
1
@BoostedNub How so? You mean mixing inline and numbered citations? I don't consider Wikipedia authoritative so I typically don't provide full, formal citations when I reference it (just links and acknowledgement).
– Alex Hajnal
27 mins ago
@BoostedNub How so? You mean mixing inline and numbered citations? I don't consider Wikipedia authoritative so I typically don't provide full, formal citations when I reference it (just links and acknowledgement).
– Alex Hajnal
27 mins ago
If I were writing a formal research paper it would be different though; everything would get a proper citation, Wikipedia included. Note that given its non-authoritative nature, Wikipedia should never be used as a primary source in any serious paper. (It can be useful for tracking down primary sources though.)
– Alex Hajnal
1 min ago
If I were writing a formal research paper it would be different though; everything would get a proper citation, Wikipedia included. Note that given its non-authoritative nature, Wikipedia should never be used as a primary source in any serious paper. (It can be useful for tracking down primary sources though.)
– Alex Hajnal
1 min ago
add a comment |
TheGeneral is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
TheGeneral is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
TheGeneral is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
TheGeneral is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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Can you clarify the second paragraph? In particular, the third clause of the first sentence is confusing in context, seems out of place, and is a bit of a non sequitur.
– Alex Hajnal
6 mins ago