Difference between revisions of "2262: Parker Solar Probe"

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(Added a brief explanation and a messy transcript. By no means is this finished, but it's a good start.)
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==Explanation==
 
==Explanation==
 
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
 
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
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This is an informative comic meant to represent the relative distances of astronomical objects relative to the Parker Solar Probe. It also shows where the Parker Solar Probe should be in 2025.
  
 
==Transcript==
 
==Transcript==
 
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
 
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
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Looking Down Toward the Sun
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and the
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Parker Solar Probe
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(sizes to scale,
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distances NOT to scale)
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Earth
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Venus
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Mercury
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Helios 2
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(1976)
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Parker Solar Probe
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(today)
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Parker Solar Probe
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(2025)
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{{comic discussion}}
 
{{comic discussion}}

Revision as of 20:24, 31 January 2020

Parker Solar Probe
It will get within 9 or 10 Sun-diameters of the "bottom" (the Sun's surface) which seems pretty far when you put it that way, but from up here on Earth it's practically all the way down.
Title text: It will get within 9 or 10 Sun-diameters of the "bottom" (the Sun's surface) which seems pretty far when you put it that way, but from up here on Earth it's practically all the way down.

Explanation

Ambox notice.png This explanation may be incomplete or incorrect: Created by a BOT. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.
If you can address this issue, please edit the page! Thanks.

This is an informative comic meant to represent the relative distances of astronomical objects relative to the Parker Solar Probe. It also shows where the Parker Solar Probe should be in 2025.

Transcript

Ambox notice.png This transcript is incomplete. Please help editing it! Thanks.

Looking Down Toward the Sun and the Parker Solar Probe (sizes to scale, distances NOT to scale)

Earth

Venus

Mercury

Helios 2 (1976)

Parker Solar Probe (today)

Parker Solar Probe (2025)


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Discussion

I thought "down" meant towards the center of the Earth. Apparently I was wrong. 162.158.214.148 23:17, 31 January 2020 (UTC)

Our usual understanding of "down" means "towards the center of the Earth", here Randall is using it as "towards the center of the Sun". If you think about it, down means "towards the pull of gravity", Randall is just changing the gravity source he's referencing. :) NiceGuy1 (talk) 05:16, 1 February 2020 (UTC)

I think the reference frame used here is a reference to "the enemy's gate is down" from Ender's Game, which is a book that the comic references often. 172.69.69.238 23:57, 31 January 2020 (UTC)

No, see my above comment. :) NiceGuy1 (talk) 05:16, 1 February 2020 (UTC)
Considering Sagittarius A* is not in picture, I think we can't rule out Ender's Game completely. -- Hkmaly (talk) 23:07, 2 February 2020 (UTC)
This is common in space travel. When entering a new system, down is towards the main star.SDSpivey (talk) 04:53, 4 February 2020 (UTC)

To be fair, Ender's Game only applies in a zero-G environment. signed, Mr. Buzzkill. Cellocgw (talk) 14:48, 6 February 2020 (UTC)

Cueball and Megan standing on Earth remind me of the illustrations from The Little Prince. Barmar (talk) 00:16, 1 February 2020 (UTC)

Whether or not the use is 'official', I can't help feeling that describing it as a "robotic" probe gives a different impression to some other term such as "(semi-?)autonomous". At the moment it makes me think of VINCENT from The Black Hole (*surely it can't be too long before the Disney trend to re-release "Live Action" remakes of its old features starts to include this, The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, Blackbeard's Ghost and Herbie Goes Bananas - jus' sayin' in passin'...) or Huey/Louie/Dewey from The Valley Forge. But I must check to see how much actuator use it has, other than for once-only 'deployment' like unfolding of solar panels/shielding. 162.158.154.241 16:44, 1 February 2020 (UTC)

The orbit GIF moves a little too quickly to see clearly (and might not be fully accurate), but there seem to be some close calls between PSP and Venus, and PSP and Mercury. These Are Not The Comments You Are Looking For (talk) 00:24, 2 February 2020 (UTC)

That is correct and intentional. The probe is using Gravity Assists to slow down. As a result, the close flyby with Mercury and Venus are all essential parts of going to the Sun. 172.68.141.148 01:39, 2 February 2020 (UTC)
Note the resolution of the picture: what looks as close calls is not THAT close. -- Hkmaly (talk) 23:07, 2 February 2020 (UTC)

Who put an extra explanation? We don't need two of the same thing. Could we get that copy cleared, except for the table chart? That can go with the first one.108.162.241.226 14:32, 3 February 2020 (UTC)

Randall was doubly sloppy on the title text. It should be 9-10 radii form the center, not 9-10 diameters from the surface. Clarified this in both explanations on this page, I agree that someone should delete one of them.108.162.229.98 12:50, 5 February 2020 (UTC)