A small telescope past Saturn could solve some mysteries of the universe better than giant telescopes near Earth

[notFritzArgelander]

https://phys.org/news/2021-11-small-tel ... verse.html

[Michael131313]

Thanks nFA. Makes sense however I have no idea what the complications would be.

[notFritzArgelander]

Thanks nFA. Makes sense however I have no idea what the complications would be.

There wouldn't be much. The science would be unique but limited. The probe would not be serviceable but then neither is the JWST. The main thing is whether this kind of science is deemed worthy of the relatively low cost?

[Thefatkitty]

I never thought about that; fascinating article nFA; thanks. Too bad Cassini couldn't have dropped one off, but it had enough to do what with sending off the Huygens probe

I hope it comes to pass!

[notFritzArgelander]

I never thought about that; fascinating article nFA; thanks. Too bad Cassini couldn't have dropped one off, but it had enough to do what with sending off the Huygens probe

I hope it comes to pass!

Me too. It’s sure to be cheap enough!

[SkyHiker]

A telescope is one thing, getting the data here is something entirely different. For that you need solar panels or, at that distance, perhaps a nuclear generator. By then you have so much weight and overhead that the idea of a small cheap little scope is out the window. The article features beautiful images of gravity lensed galaxies. For that you need good aperture or else you don't have the resolution. It sounds like fantasy to me.

[notFritzArgelander]

A telescope is one thing, getting the data here is something entirely different. For that you need solar panels or, at that distance, perhaps a nuclear generator. By then you have so much weight and overhead that the idea of a small cheap little scope is out the window. The article features beautiful images of gravity lensed galaxies. For that you need good aperture or else you don't have the resolution. It sounds like fantasy to me.

I’m not so sure it’s not doable with solar power. Depends on what the data rate is required to be.

[chris_g]

Interesting article, would be a pain to collimate though!

[notFritzArgelander]

Interesting article, would be a pain to collimate though!

Funny about that....

[notFritzArgelander]

A telescope is one thing, getting the data here is something entirely different. For that you need solar panels or, at that distance, perhaps a nuclear generator. By then you have so much weight and overhead that the idea of a small cheap little scope is out the window. The article features beautiful images of gravity lensed galaxies. For that you need good aperture or else you don't have the resolution. It sounds like fantasy to me.

I’m not so sure it’s not doable with solar power. Depends on what the data rate is required to be.

In fact after doing some additional research, I find it interesting that the LORRI instrument on New Horizons (nuclear powered) might possibly be repurposed to do this science, maybe? It's unclear whether the idea is for a new mission or for repurposing New Horizons.

[GCoyote]

I wonder if we could combine data from a mission like this with that from instruments on or near Earth as various "virtual" telescope projects have done.

[notFritzArgelander]

I wonder if we could combine data from a mission like this with that from instruments on or near Earth as various "virtual" telescope projects have done.

That’s trickier. The most severe limit is that to be practical the data rates (and also power required) would be high. Syncing the data links would be challenging. It is also easier with identical optics but not impossible without. The VLT is a good model. I think it’s a good idea for a design study.