January:
Feburary:
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| Author | Comment | ||
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CavScout |
SDF Launch Date: Is it in the stars? |
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The other thread about the launch dates got me thinking, I wanted to see what a few months
difference would really make in the position of planets regarding when the SDF1 launched. My assumption was the outer planets have such long orbits that, in
context with the story, the date shifting would have little real impact. NASA's JPL has a neat
tool that allows you to view solar objects by date! So I did, I selected the 15th of each month for the year of 2009. Show me was to "The Solar
System" as seen from "above". I left the time at 0:0:0 UTC. I selected I want the body to take up 80% percent of the image width. I only
selected orbits to be shown. Here is what I got:
January:
Feburary:
March:
April:
May:
June:
July:
August:
September:
October:
November:
December:
CavScout
"The role of the Cavalry is to add colour, dash and daring, to what would otherwise be a mindless shitfight amongst grunts."-Australian Army saying
This is my "mod-voice". If I post in red, it usually means knock whatever it is off! |
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CavScout |
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Here it is as an animated gif:
CavScout
"The role of the Cavalry is to add colour, dash and daring, to what would otherwise be a mindless shitfight amongst grunts."-Australian Army saying
This is my "mod-voice". If I post in red, it usually means knock whatever it is off! |
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Basara 549 |
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note that the February position of Earth, if you draw a line from Earth to the orbit of Pluto from the day side of the planet (fold would take it past the sun
at about a 30 to 60 degree angle - remember, it was approaching evening when the SDF-1 folded), puts Saturn in the wrong place for it to be a stopover on the
way back to Earth. However, once one gets into late spring or early summer, such a fold would put Saturn at a position in its orbit to be a viable stopover (in
other words, the May-August frames). Earlier or later results in a need to travel against the grain of the orbital disk, and risking the mother of all FOD.
Stan Bundy sbundy@kih.net ICQ: Basara (2878324) Xfire: basara549
"One should always be wary of a scientist speaking out of his narrow field, or those invoking their name outside their fields. Scientists are human too, and are just as prone to cling to 'causes', just or frivolous, as the rest of our species." - Dr. Peter Wykoff Walker, 11 Sept 1997, rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated |
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CavScout |
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That is 12 months of positions. Moving the launch date less than 12 months, in either direction, will not line up Pluto and Saturn for a "return"
trip to Earth. The difference in positions of the two planets, vs Feb or Jun, is none existent for our purposes.
I mean, you are not going to argue that this Feb lunch date is disproved by this image:
and that a June launch date is proved by this image:
The planets don't "align" in either date range.
CavScout
"The role of the Cavalry is to add colour, dash and daring, to what would otherwise be a mindless shitfight amongst grunts."-Australian Army saying
This is my "mod-voice". If I post in red, it usually means knock whatever it is off! |
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Basara 549 |
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Once again, thank you for proving me right, Cav.
Stan Bundy sbundy@kih.net ICQ: Basara (2878324) Xfire: basara549
"One should always be wary of a scientist speaking out of his narrow field, or those invoking their name outside their fields. Scientists are human too, and are just as prone to cling to 'causes', just or frivolous, as the rest of our species." - Dr. Peter Wykoff Walker, 11 Sept 1997, rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated
Last Edited By: Basara 549
March 26, 2009 03:15 PM.
Edited 1 times.
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CavScout |
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Basara 549 wrote: Somehow I doubt that, but we'll see. Basara 549 wrote: Opening with an ad hominem, generally a sign that one's argument is going to be weak. We'll see. Basara 549 wrote: Not sure why this is relevant. The SDF1 isn't some standard rocket using a standard launch trajectory. You are assuming, based on nothing given in the anime, that a fold is simply a faster method of traditional rocketry. For all we know they folded "through" the Earth and not "straight" up from Macross Island. Planet location would only slightly matter on the travel back which is presumed to have used a much more standard rocket-like ability. Basara 549 wrote: We don't even know the exact location of Macross Island, let alone specific dates to be making any of the wild assumptions that you are and then labeling them as "fact". Again, you are presuming a specific method of travel (direct line) which has zero support from that anime that I am aware of. You claim facts when you don't have them. Basara 549 wrote: There's a simple silliness of appealing to contemporary science when dealing with a series about 50 foot tall humanoids and giant mecha. Now, you can suppose this if you want, but don't for a second start claiming it to be fact or, much less, supported by the show. The SDF1 wasn't some conventional rocket on a routine science mission nor does routine science mission spacecraft have to deal with enemy fleets attacking or blocking their route. Basara 549 wrote: Simply a false assertion. No matter what position planets were in at the time of the fold, the SDF1 could make a trajectory to any planet they decided to. And as the images I've provided show, the planet location from a Feb to June launch (specifically for the outer planets) makes a minor, if even relevant, difference. Basara 549 wrote: You'll have to excuse me when I dismiss out of hand "evidence" that only you can testify to. You do this rather often; point to something that is unverifiable but on your own testimony. Basara 549 wrote: So, you can claim others are wrong, but if someone takes you to task similarly it's their fault for "making it an issue"? Oh, and drop the "it's only a coincidence that X proves me right" when you keep referring to it to try and prove someone else wrong. When you claim you can prove your launch date and then fail to do so, expect someone to question it. You made some wild claims that sources that you referred to don't back support. Don't get mad at me for actually looking for what you claimed was there. Double so, don't get mad if I point out it's not there.
CavScout
"The role of the Cavalry is to add colour, dash and daring, to what would otherwise be a mindless shitfight amongst grunts."-Australian Army saying
This is my "mod-voice". If I post in red, it usually means knock whatever it is off! |
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