Comments on: Hubble Confirms New Moons of Pluto http://www.wolverinesden.org/2006/02/22/hubble-confirms-new-moons-of-pluto/ Sun, 12 Oct 2008 07:26:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.7 by: Wolverine http://www.wolverinesden.org/2006/02/22/hubble-confirms-new-moons-of-pluto/#comment-218 Sat, 25 Feb 2006 16:54:02 +0000 http://www.wolverinesden.org/2006/02/22/hubble-confirms-new-moons-of-pluto/#comment-218 Another article on the subject by Amir Alexander has been posted <a href="http://www.planetary.org/news/2006/0224_Three_Plutonic_Moons_Formed_in_Single.html" rel="nofollow">here</a> at The Planetary Society. Another article on the subject by Amir Alexander has been posted here at The Planetary Society.

]]> by: Wolverine http://www.wolverinesden.org/2006/02/22/hubble-confirms-new-moons-of-pluto/#comment-209 Sat, 25 Feb 2006 02:26:50 +0000 http://www.wolverinesden.org/2006/02/22/hubble-confirms-new-moons-of-pluto/#comment-209 Hi AitchJay, I don't think the artist's conception is intended to convey any given velocity, it's likely just provided as some eye candy to accompany the news. Trying to determine an impact velocity would be somewhat of a challenge, and requires a great deal of additional study of the Plutonian system. That gets into areas of planetary science <em>way</em> over my rudimentary understanding. (I wish I had access to the article published in <em>Nature</em> -- wonder to what depth they explore the impact scenario and if they've included some possible ranges, with the maths.) To formulate refined ideas about the impact scenario they'll require more detailed observations than can be performed via Earth-based equipment or even orbital observatories like Hubble. As far as a similar collision scenario with Earth, I wouldn't guess there'd be a tremendously different result, all things considered (it'd still be vastly catastrophic) -- mapping out all the involved physics would just be more complicated, as Earth's "living" core has a great deal of energy stored up in its rotation. Hi AitchJay,

I don’t think the artist’s conception is intended to convey any given velocity, it’s likely just provided as some eye candy to accompany the news.

Trying to determine an impact velocity would be somewhat of a challenge, and requires a great deal of additional study of the Plutonian system. That gets into areas of planetary science way over my rudimentary understanding. (I wish I had access to the article published in Nature — wonder to what depth they explore the impact scenario and if they’ve included some possible ranges, with the maths.)

To formulate refined ideas about the impact scenario they’ll require more detailed observations than can be performed via Earth-based equipment or even orbital observatories like Hubble.

As far as a similar collision scenario with Earth, I wouldn’t guess there’d be a tremendously different result, all things considered (it’d still be vastly catastrophic) — mapping out all the involved physics would just be more complicated, as Earth’s “living” core has a great deal of energy stored up in its rotation.

]]> by: AitchJay http://www.wolverinesden.org/2006/02/22/hubble-confirms-new-moons-of-pluto/#comment-208 Fri, 24 Feb 2006 11:23:54 +0000 http://www.wolverinesden.org/2006/02/22/hubble-confirms-new-moons-of-pluto/#comment-208 I have a couple of questions, not sure if anyone knows the answers yet: - would a collision like that happen as fast as the artist's impression implies? I understand that the two bodies would be attracted to each other, but I can't get my head around their speed at the moment of impact.. - a collision like this between two planets like ours would have a very different result, due to the liquid cores; but what kind of result? I know this is all theoretical stuff - I'm just curious about the possibilities.. Good posts, as always. I have a couple of questions, not sure if anyone knows the answers yet:
- would a collision like that happen as fast as the artist’s impression implies? I understand that the two bodies would be attracted to each other, but I can’t get my head around their speed at the moment of impact..
- a collision like this between two planets like ours would have a very different result, due to the liquid cores; but what kind of result?
I know this is all theoretical stuff - I’m just curious about the possibilities..
Good posts, as always.

]]> by: Wolverine http://www.wolverinesden.org/2006/02/22/hubble-confirms-new-moons-of-pluto/#comment-206 Thu, 23 Feb 2006 03:20:13 +0000 http://www.wolverinesden.org/2006/02/22/hubble-confirms-new-moons-of-pluto/#comment-206 No doubt. And, I'm really glad New Horizons was able to lift off early in the launch window -- that's a huge benefit. The launch also went so well that the spacecraft has a pretty significant fuel surplus to navigate after it reaches Pluto. No doubt. And, I’m really glad New Horizons was able to lift off early in the launch window — that’s a huge benefit. The launch also went so well that the spacecraft has a pretty significant fuel surplus to navigate after it reaches Pluto.

]]> by: Eric Ingram http://www.wolverinesden.org/2006/02/22/hubble-confirms-new-moons-of-pluto/#comment-205 Thu, 23 Feb 2006 03:07:30 +0000 http://www.wolverinesden.org/2006/02/22/hubble-confirms-new-moons-of-pluto/#comment-205 i can't wait until 2015ish! i can’t wait until 2015ish!

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