Discussion
SeanyD said:
Looking at the higher res photo on the beeb:
Curious to see a cylinder/barrel like shape next to it's final resting point - how does nature produce a shape like that, genuine question.
Brilliant project and achievement.
I guess it'd be similar to the southern coastline of Australia, where erosion just happens at different rates to different areas due to the structure of the rock and the battering it takes from external sources:Curious to see a cylinder/barrel like shape next to it's final resting point - how does nature produce a shape like that, genuine question.
Brilliant project and achievement.
I don't think there's a shape nature hasn't created yet to be honest, even in rock.
durbster said:
SeanyD said:
Looking at the higher res photo on the beeb:
Curious to see a cylinder/barrel like shape next to it's final resting point - how does nature produce a shape like that, genuine question.
Brilliant project and achievement.
I guess it'd be similar to the southern coastline of Australia, where erosion just happens at different rates to different areas due to the structure of the rock and the battering it takes from external sources:Curious to see a cylinder/barrel like shape next to it's final resting point - how does nature produce a shape like that, genuine question.
Brilliant project and achievement.
I don't think there's a shape nature hasn't created yet to be honest, even in rock.
Air is not the only agent of erosion.
All the mountains of the moon are rounded off despite the fact that there is no air. They have been eroded by 4 billion years of micrometeorite impact.
On a comet there will be quite dramatic temperature shifts - especially during its passage close to the sun, which will cause fractures, melting, outgassing and even explosions - so plenty of scope there for rocks and ice to be broken up and flung about.
All the mountains of the moon are rounded off despite the fact that there is no air. They have been eroded by 4 billion years of micrometeorite impact.
On a comet there will be quite dramatic temperature shifts - especially during its passage close to the sun, which will cause fractures, melting, outgassing and even explosions - so plenty of scope there for rocks and ice to be broken up and flung about.
Whilst this mission is awesome - is anyone else disappointed in the sparsity of images being released to the public.
Over a week after touchdown and they have only released 17 images of the descent and landing (and only two from the actual surface).
I can understand them wanting to keep important results back for scientific research papers etc - but they need to keep the public on side - and hoarding the data/images goes against this IMO. People hear about the cost of this mission - but see very little of the results.
http://www.universetoday.com/116208/concerns-over-...
NASA on the other hand released spectacular images from the curiosity rover almost from day one - and there are now tens of thousands of images publically available.
Over a week after touchdown and they have only released 17 images of the descent and landing (and only two from the actual surface).
I can understand them wanting to keep important results back for scientific research papers etc - but they need to keep the public on side - and hoarding the data/images goes against this IMO. People hear about the cost of this mission - but see very little of the results.
http://www.universetoday.com/116208/concerns-over-...
NASA on the other hand released spectacular images from the curiosity rover almost from day one - and there are now tens of thousands of images publically available.
NASA is a pretty unique governmental organisation. It was set up by Eisenhower SPECIFICALLY to do things very different to the way governments and the military normally conduct themselves.
NASA was intended to be a showcase for the open, frank and honest way the US wanted to conduct itself in space research and as a complete contrast to the secretive and hidden way the Soviets were seen to be conducting their space efforts.
It is in their DNA to be open and very public orientated. ESA is not quite the same, being more typical of state funded bodies.
NASA was intended to be a showcase for the open, frank and honest way the US wanted to conduct itself in space research and as a complete contrast to the secretive and hidden way the Soviets were seen to be conducting their space efforts.
It is in their DNA to be open and very public orientated. ESA is not quite the same, being more typical of state funded bodies.
I am not sure they are geared up for it and as pointed out, it is the difference between the Europeans and US. I think NASA wants to survive so it dishes out all it can, sort of "look at what we are doing, keep funding us" where as Europe are more top heavy red tape what do they need to see that for?
It looks as if Philae's landing was more chaotic than previously imagined:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/12/01/esa_finds_...
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/12/01/esa_finds_...
New Scientist said:
...the latest analysis of data gathered by Philae during its brief waking time on the comet suggest it is receiving just enough sunlight to survive the cold and is very likely to switch on again next year.
#RosettaWatch: Comet lander could wake up next yearSounds more hopeful than expecting but will watch with interest.
NASA's Dawn to orbit Ceres in the new year. A bit less rock'n'roll than a comet, but interesting none the less.
hidetheelephants said:
NASA's Dawn to orbit Ceres in the new year. A bit less rock'n'roll than a comet, but interesting none the less.
I know it's trendy to hate the Mail, but that article is pretty much stolen from the NASA websitehttp://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-na...
But anyway, that's a great achievement being able to orbit two separate bodies, I'm not sure we've ever done that before have we? Excluding orbiting Earth straight after lift-off of course! Ion drives seem to be the medium term solution to travelling around the solar system, though I guess scaling it up to shift humans around is going to be the issue.
ESA have released a new image showing the increasing activity of 67P (taken 8 weeks ago!)
Here for more info:
http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2015/01/16/fine-struc...
Here for more info:
http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2015/01/16/fine-struc...
Gassing Station | Science! | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff