Do we have any news about the UK counterpart mission
aka the Maximised Orbital Reflectivity Examination and Cometary Astronomy Motion Bias Experiment?
NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) has dispatched to Earth its first full-fat photos following a calibration shot released in early January. WISE principal investigator, Edward Wright of UCLA, enthused: "We've got a candy store of images coming down from space. Everyone has their favorite flavors, and we've got …
I just have to say, that Andromeda picture is simply amazing.
I would say it's like taking an X-Ray of an entire galaxy but I'm well aware of the reasons such a statement would be incorrect. I'm also well aware of the pedantic nature of most Commentards on El Reg, so I won't.
That 12/22 micron image is wonderful and shows some fascinating structures but the view is too 'side on'. Before the coolant runs out, they should try to move the satellite a bit further up and to the right to try and get a more 'head on' view.
Right? I'm sure that satellite would have to move at least a few hundred light years to get a different view angel.
Very good pictures, though.
Well, from looking at the picture, at least they managed to take the photo a bit closer up. Which counts for something!
Wouldn't they have to move it, like, 80 billion, gazillion miles to do that...?
You, sir, owe me a new keyboard
Thank you very much.
Assuming you aren't making a funny, I suspect by 'a bit further up' you mean several hundred thousand (or million) light years, amiright?
Given how far away Andromeda is (2.5 million light years) the perspective shift is going to be tiny no matter how much it moves.
You mean, move it a few thousand light years to one side? :)
Andromeda is so far away that no movement of the satellite will have any effect on the angle that we see the galaxy. We are stuck with this angle and point of view until we can travel out of our own galaxy a very long way.
"..to get a different view angel."
I never thought about asking the angels to pass it along to get a different view. Should we all pray together or can we do it individually?
...And could you galaxies in the back row move in a bit, so we can get a nice group shot...?
Yep.....I said they were pedantic...
Forgot to mention that many also fail the sense of humour test.
...by how many people didn't get the joke. Oh well.
aka the Maximised Orbital Reflectivity Examination and Cometary Astronomy Motion Bias Experiment?
Is that the one with the big additional lenses over the optical sensors?
And have that precious LH2 last somewhat longer....
He would feel the need to intervene in those failed stars.
He already did: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/WISE/multimedia/pia12831-b.html