Arecibo's demise!! - Page 6

TommyJ · 2021-01-13, 15:26

Hmm, your reasoning that there were often miscalculations with finances reminded me that we live in a capitalist world. And now there are very few fans who can afford a project that will never pay off. Projects like Arecibo are now only needed for enthusiasts and scientists. Anything that doesn't pay off will be rejected. Unless there will be some politics in this again.

xilman · 2021-01-13, 16:08

Its not just finances.

In every project which is non-trivial (and many trivial ones too) the first 80% of the work takes 20% of the time. The final 20% of the work takes the remaining 80% of the time.

Uncwilly · 2021-01-13, 16:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by TommyJ

Projects like Arecibo are now only needed for enthusiasts and scientists.

There are good reasons to have site(s) like Arecibo for national and international interests for financial reasons. Having the ability to use radar to better fix the position of potentially hazardous asteroids. PHAs can have a high financial impact on the world. And since their exact position (down to errors of less than 10 km) is important to know their future course, and thus potential impact on earth, it is a wise investment to get accurate data, so that action can be taken to avoid impacts.

Nick · 2021-01-13, 16:24

Such dishes also get used for tracking satellites - both your own and other people's.

TommyJ · 2021-01-15, 17:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncwilly

There are good reasons to have site(s) like Arecibo for national and international interests for financial reasons. Having the ability to use radar to better fix the position of potentially hazardous asteroids. PHAs can have a high financial impact on the world. And since their exact position (down to errors of less than 10 km) is important to know their future course, and thus potential impact on earth, it is a wise investment to get accurate data, so that action can be taken to avoid impacts.

As I understand it, you are talking about telescopes like WISE. Most of which are still located in space. I understand the benefits of a radio telescope.
Yet the placement of such an object on Earth makes it somewhat limited in the search for something that is approaching the planet.
There don't seem to be many benefits.

Uncwilly · 2021-01-15, 17:22

Arecibo had RADAR capability. That gives a range to the PHA. That helps to fix the orbit far more accurately than imaging can. WISE, the B612 planned craft, and even the big optical surveys coming are great for finding things. But to get the orbit dialed in, (and also the size), RADAR is best.

2021-01-13, 15:26	#56
TommyJ "Tom Johnson" Dec 2020 United Kingdom 11 Posts	financial Hmm, your reasoning that there were often miscalculations with finances reminded me that we live in a capitalist world. And now there are very few fans who can afford a project that will never pay off. Projects like Arecibo are now only needed for enthusiasts and scientists. Anything that doesn't pay off will be rejected. Unless there will be some politics in this again.

2021-01-13, 16:08	#57
xilman Bamboozled! "𒉺𒌌𒇷𒆷𒀭" May 2003 Down not across 10,501 Posts	Its not just finances. In every project which is non-trivial (and many trivial ones too) the first 80% of the work takes 20% of the time. The final 20% of the work takes the remaining 80% of the time.

2021-01-13, 16:24	#59
Nick Dec 2012 The Netherlands 2·7·113 Posts	Such dishes also get used for tracking satellites - both your own and other people's.

2021-01-15, 17:22	#61
Uncwilly 6809 > 6502 """"""""""""""""""" Aug 2003 101×103 Posts 21751₈ Posts	Arecibo had RADAR capability. That gives a range to the PHA. That helps to fix the orbit far more accurately than imaging can. WISE, the B612 planned craft, and even the big optical surveys coming are great for finding things. But to get the orbit dialed in, (and also the size), RADAR is best.