Cosmology v NASA

tebanski · 2 Jun 2007 at 06:20

Quite simply,

My good friend in China posed this question:

Is this picture possible and what do you think is wrong with it?

it is a nasa picture:

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap070526.html

Havana_UK · 2 Jun 2007 at 06:25

Have you read the description?

They've adjusted the relative brightness levels, but I'd say yes, the picture is possible.

Hav

tebanski · 2 Jun 2007 at 06:30

I am not doubting NASA, far from it.

But Saturn looks very large (with rings or not) on this perspective. (with rings, even more perplexing)

Cheers.

yak.h'cir · 2 Jun 2007 at 07:31

Is it actually a NASA photograph? I don't think it is, it's just someone elses picture they've put into their gallery.

I haven't taken any photographs at this magnification myself but I know it is definetly possible to to resolve that much detail with a land based telescope, especially a 20" one. I'm pretty sure if it wasn't possible/a fake it would have been shot down by many astrophotographers by now.

The photograph was taken by a Jens Hackmann, he's got a fantastic webpage with loads more wonderful pictures, definetly worth a look! http://www.kopfgeist.com/andere.htm

Van_Dammesque · 2 Jun 2007 at 09:27

yak.h'cir said:
Is it actually a NASA photograph? I don't think it is, it's just someone elses picture they've put into their gallery.

I haven't taken any photographs at this magnification myself but I know it is definetly possible to to resolve that much detail with a land based telescope, especially a 20" one. I'm pretty sure if it wasn't possible/a fake it would have been shot down by many astrophotographers by now.

The photograph was taken by a Jens Hackmann, he's got a fantastic webpage with loads more wonderful pictures, definetly worth a look! http://www.kopfgeist.com/andere.htm

THis one is especially good!

Van_Dammesque · 2 Jun 2007 at 09:30

tebanski said:
Quite simply,

My good friend in China posed this question:

Is this picture possible and what do you think is wrong with it?

it is a nasa picture:

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap070526.html

It maybe possible to calculate the apparent radii of the moon and saturn and find the ratio on the pic and compare the ratio of radii from info given in books for the radii and calculate if the ratio in the pic is the same as what it should be. Boring but it may convince your friend (and I'm not going to do it

).

tebanski · 2 Jun 2007 at 10:47

Van_Dammesque said:
It maybe possible to calculate the apparent radii of the moon and saturn and find the ratio on the pic and compare the ratio of radii from info given in books for the radii and calculate if the ratio in the pic is the same as what it should be. Boring but it may convince your friend (and I'm not going to do it ).

Never boring, mate.

a very good assumption, thank you.

It will most definately be possible to calculate the distances from a photograph or image by finding the radius and then circumference of this akward image of the moon. But Saturn seems so large for such a distance away.

Nice one mate,

T

tebanski · 2 Jun 2007 at 10:49

yak.h'cir said:
Is it actually a NASA photograph? I don't think it is, it's just someone elses picture they've put into their gallery.

I haven't taken any photographs at this magnification myself but I know it is definetly possible to to resolve that much detail with a land based telescope, especially a 20" one. I'm pretty sure if it wasn't possible/a fake it would have been shot down by many astrophotographers by now.

The photograph was taken by a Jens Hackmann, he's got a fantastic webpage with loads more wonderful pictures, definetly worth a look! http://www.kopfgeist.com/andere.htm

It is most definately a NASA picture and thanks for the additional information, nice one

Anyone in doubt, goto http://www.nasa.gov/ and type "picture of the day" in the search bar. then rewind, in time (lol) to May 26th

Cheers

T

Spuds · 2 Jun 2007 at 11:22

tebanski said:
But Saturn seems so large for such a distance away.

Don't forget Saturn is the second largest planet in our solar system at ten times the size of the earth, and floats apparently...

AtreuS · 2 Jun 2007 at 11:24

best way to imagine this is to imagine the size in your room of the full size of that moon... should be quite big yes? ( the curvature is very small so the full sized image would be very large if you somehow made it extend pst your monitor ) now take that and zoom it away in your mind to how you normally see the moon in the sky. The "large" saturn would now be a mere speck that would be hard to see, especially as it has been brightened in the shot, and would be the right size.

Pinter75 · 2 Jun 2007 at 11:56

I took this one with a 10" scope, and a philips webcam from my Balcony in the center of Hove.

Saturn is quite big viewed from the earth ;-)

but not as big as Jupiter!

Van_Dammesque · 2 Jun 2007 at 12:03

Pinter75 said:
snip

Nice!

What is the light-pollution like from where that pic was took?

Pinter75 · 2 Jun 2007 at 12:05

Van_Dammesque said:
Nice!

What is the light-pollution like from where that pic was took?

Light pollution is horrible. I have Brigton lighting up the sky right in front of me, not too mention Hove itself.

Sadly the scope is packed away untill I can get to darker skies. It weighes in at 6 stone, so is not all that portable.

tebanski · 2 Jun 2007 at 12:06

Pinter75 said:
I took this one with a 10" scope, and a philips webcam from my Balcony in the center of Hove.

Saturn is quite big viewed from the earth but not as big as Jupiter!

Excellent picture.

How much are 10" telescopes?

Pinter75 · 2 Jun 2007 at 12:09

tebanski said:
Excellent picture.

How much are 10" telescopes?

Mine was £2995 excluding all the other junk you have to add to them. My setup is probably near £6k

Docaroo · 2 Jun 2007 at 12:10

Spuds said:
Don't forget Saturn is the second largest planet in our solar system at ten times the size of the earth, and floats apparently...

That is quite true however only in certain circumstances:

Assuming we had a REALLLY big bathtub, on Earth (or somewhere where the pressure is 1 bar) then Saturn would float on water, this is because the Bulk density of Saturn is less than that of water! woah!

CrowK · 2 Jun 2007 at 12:15

Diameter of saturn= 120K km
Diameter of moon= 3.5K km

Distance to Saturn= 1,400,000,000 km
Distance to moon= 400,000 km

1400000000/400000=3500

In the picture the radius of the moon appears to be about 100 times the radius of saturn (well that's my guesstimate). Since in reality saturn's radius is 35 times as large, the moon would have to be 3500 times closer to account for the picture. Which it is. taa daa

basmic · 2 Jun 2007 at 12:21

Have a listen to Saturn: 1 2

The second one made the hairs on my neck stand on end. :eek:

Booner! · 2 Jun 2007 at 12:47

basmic said:
Have a listen to Saturn: 1 2

The second one made the hairs on my neck stand on end.

Woah thats pretty cool!

Aliens!! wooooo

Memphis · 2 Jun 2007 at 13:02

Pinter75 said:
I took this one with a 10" scope, and a philips webcam from my Balcony in the center of Hove.

Saturn is quite big viewed from the earth but not as big as Jupiter!

http://www.ecodomehome.co.uk/astroshots/gallery/Saturn/sautrnLX200.jpg[IMG][/QUOTE]

Seriously impressive mate, nice one.