Mr. Sinister Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 9 years. 9 years I've been waiting for this. Today we are on the verge of yet another milestone in human history. Right now, New Horizons is close to completing its 9 year journey to Pluto, set to make its closest approach at 7:49 EST.I contemplated whether or not I should start this thread, seeing as I only have a phone at the moment, and can't post links, but hopefully some of you other space nerds can help me out. This is only a once in a lifetime event New Horizons will begin mapping the chemical composition of Pluto/Charons surface, along with studying Plutos escaping atmosphere, which freezes to the ground the further away it gets from the sun, along with a ton of other good stuff.So many questions, and today, they will begin to be answered. Mankind has done it again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Springfield Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 I am pretty damn excited for this. I downloaded the NASA app on my work PC to track it but it won't open. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@DCGoldPants Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Springfield Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 That's an amazing image. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The 12th Commandment Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 It's going to be a great couple days. Truly amazing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redskins3D Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 that's pretty awesome. Â You're a planet in our hearts Pluto. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaGoonie55 Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 awwww I missed the closest point time. Â thought it was 749 PM EST. Â Oh well. Â I'm excited to see the pictures when they come in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zguy28 Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 I never realized that because we've only known about Pluto for 85 years, and that's only a 1/3 of its orbit duration, they had to pretty much guess its location for the probe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The 12th Commandment Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 I love that there are some of Clyde Tombaugh's ashes on board.  He's my small city's biggest claim to fame.  Met him many times, he went to the church some of my family goes to (Unitarian).  He was a very interesting, humble and smart man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCSaints_fan Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 51,000 miles per hour, and thats still only 0.0077% light speed (i.e, just under 1/100 of 1% light speed ). Â Still, it is taking about 8 hours for light to reach, so its travelled 8 light hours. Â Would be cool to get into the light-days distances, then the light-years would start looking feasible Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Sinister Posted July 14, 2015 Author Share Posted July 14, 2015 awwww I missed the closest point time. thought it was 749 PM EST. Oh well. I'm excited to see the pictures when they come in. My bad, goon. Shouldve put that in the op. Was so excited I completely forgot about that part. That image is amazing. Can't wait until the real juicy stuff starts rolling in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaGoonie55 Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 yeah man, it takes 4 hours for the data to transfer back to earth.  add in an hour or so of getting the photos ready  I'm sure before I go to bed tonight, I will know a LOT more about Pluto!  (and it's all good, I checked the time yesterday and didn't realize it was 0749......my prior military self should have known) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corcaigh Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 Everything you wanted to know about New Horizons and the mission to Pluto: Â http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AsburySkinsFan Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 yeah man, it takes 4 hours for the data to transfer back to earth. add in an hour or so of getting the photos ready I'm sure before I go to bed tonight, I will know a LOT more about Pluto! (and it's all good, I checked the time yesterday and didn't realize it was 0749......my prior military self should have known) According to the news conference this morning, New Horizons is in data collection mode right now and won't switch to data send for another 9 hours (at time of closest approach) add another 4.5 hours for transmission and it'll probably be tomorrow morning before we see and know more. 30,000 km from Pluto though that's pretty cool. Â *edit just checked Corcaigh's link, looks like 10 hours + from now before phone home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaGoonie55 Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 Thanks ASF, I wasn't able to catch that news conference. Â I'm giddy with anticipation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Destino Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 Have they made sure all the scientists involved are wearing shirts that couldn't possibly offend anyone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoony Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 Have they made sure all the scientists involved are wearing shirts that couldn't possibly offend anyone? I really hope so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AsburySkinsFan Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 Have they made sure all the scientists involved are wearing shirts that couldn't possibly offend anyone? Wow....had to google that, I'm really glad that I don't watch network media anymore. People are really starting to make me not like our culture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zguy28 Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 Have they made sure all the scientists involved are wearing shirts that couldn't possibly offend anyone? Maybe the lead scientist or spokesperson will be escorted to a podium by a bunch of girls from a Robert Palmer video? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PiLfan Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 Well, that didn't take long... Â Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corcaigh Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 Have they made sure all the scientists involved are wearing shirts that couldn't possibly offend anyone? Â Maybe a lead scientist at the podium will be a female wearing a Chippendales' t-shirt. Â Although it looks like the black polo has been issued. Â Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corcaigh Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015  Walmart on Pluto image   Disney got there first. Pluto on Pluto  Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattFancy Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 https://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/bml0uavNH2b2GEFYEEUqwmgw9Eo=/126x0:1071x630/400x267/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46740974/pluto_compare_vox__1_.0.0.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AsburySkinsFan Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 Well, that didn't take long... Â Well that was obviously photoshopped....a Plutonian day is 153.3 hours long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corcaigh Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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