Nice to hear from someone with an understanding of the problem.
While an east European team might hope for an L1 based system, this problem has been examined in depth by a team of NASA engineers from Langley, and the best solution for a warning system is using Moon based telescopes instead of L1 based telescopes.
One problem with L1 based systems is that small carbonaceous chondrites are simply too dark (not reflective enough) to be reliably picked up by passive systems.
Another problem with L1 based systems is that they provide 6 months less warning time of approaching large comets than Moon based ones.
On a historical basis (in other words examining the record for the last 6 million years for larger impactors and the last 10,000 years for smallers ones) the ccost is justified.
The big problem for Moon based systems is dust, but it appears that this can be handled electro-magnetically. If it can't be, then L1 based systems are the best choice.
Answering this question is the highest priority for lunar studies, and it should be answered definitively wih robots and then with a test article so that planning may be done.
Undoubtedly answering this question is now a high priority in Chinese robotic lunar studies.
E.P. Grondine
Man and Impact in the Americas
Space/Science » in reply to Astronomy with Small Telescopes
and impactor detection from space
The whole thread (46 posts)
- Planetary Defense
- Let me see if I can clarify it for you
- Well Strokes Do Effect Memory
- Pale Ink
- What medical condition...
- Well Strokes Do Effect Memory
- It's a puzzlement.
- Cost-benefit
- Something like the AAVSO or ALPO.
- re: Something like the AAVSO or ALPO.
- Excuse me, but amateurs can not provide warning of an impactor
- Something like the AAVSO or ALPO.
- Let me see if I can clarify it for you as well
- Cost-benefit
- Let me see if I can clarify it for you