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A 12-year sequence of telescope images of a star and four planets orbiting

402 points · 82 comments · mariuz

  1. ortusdux · · focus · HN ↗
    I'm excited for the leap in this tech that the Nancy Grace Roman telescope's new chronograph promises.

    <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.jpl.nasa.gov&#x2F;missions&#x2F;the-roman-coronagraph-instrument&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.jpl.nasa.gov&#x2F;missions&#x2F;the-roman-coronagraph-inst...

    The Roman Coronagraph is designed to detect planets 100 million times fainter than their stars, which is 100 to 1,000 times better than existing space-based coronagraphs. The Roman Coronagraph will be capable of directly imaging reflected starlight from a planet akin to Jupiter in size, temperature, and distance from its parent star.

    1. izend · · focus · HN ↗
      I am as well and hopefully Starship allows even larger telescopes!
      1. lukeify · · focus · HN ↗
        Starship can do it.

        As long as the telescope can fit through the Starlink Pez dispenser.

        1. alexpotato · · focus · HN ↗
          A. I watched a documentary on the plane about SpaceX where they showed the Pez dispenser working and it was amazing.

          B. You could have multiple panels operate as a swarm. There could be many &quot;mirrors&quot; that focus images on one central &quot;collector&quot;. That would be larger than any telescope that needs to be shipped as one unit e.g. James-Webb.

          1. grvbck · · focus · HN ↗
            &gt; B. You could have multiple panels operate as a swarm.

            Is that level of precision even remotely achievable with today&#x27;s technology?

            My understanding is that orbital insertion accuracy is in the ±10-50 meters range, with the most advanced formation flying satellite swarms hitting 10 cm to 1 m precision between satellites with the help of optical navigation.

            But the precision between the panels on a telescope like JWST is in the sub-mm range, no?

            Also, I&#x27;d assume stuff like orbital decay, atmospheric drag, gravitational perturbations, and solar radiation pressure would make it difficult to maintain precision over time.

            I&#x27;m sure&#x2F;hopeful there&#x27;s some people here at HN working on stuff like this, please fill in and correct me!

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