deep space radio telescope array

[Jason Chapman]

I was wondering do we have a space based early warning system for tracking asteroids. I know that they have radio telescopes equipped with high powered digital cameras which scan the skies for danger, but how do they compensate for atmosphere distortion with these cameras.

I’m currently working on my latest idea, a deep space radio telescope. There are a few uses for this deep space radio telescope.

 

To Track objects entering our solar system, to determine if they’re a threat.

To peer deeper into the cosmos, monitor background radiation.

To relay communication with any deep space vessels, thus preventing signal degradation.

 

You could position up to ten of these tracking station ant various point in our solar system, beyond the orbit of Neptune as an early warning system.

 

 

Just a crazy idea of course.

[insane_alien]

there are plans for space based telescopes a lot ess conservative than that. mainly, the plan would be multiple units orbiting in formation rather than a single platform.

 

and that booster thing you have stuck on the back is massive for what it'll have to do. your telescope is basically a satellite all it should be doing is station keeping(minor trajectory corrections so it is where it is supposed to be) thrusters for this are typically about 5N and a nozzle diameter of 1 or 2 centimeters.

[Sisyphus]

Why "up to ten?"

[proton]

I was wondering do we have a space based early warning system for tracking asteroids.

No.

I know that they have radio telescopes equipped with high powered digital cameras ..

Can you show me where? That would not only be news to me but it also seems quite impossible. A digital camera takes images using CCDs which are designed to record optical images. A radio telescope is, by definition, an instrument that receives radio signals. A CCD cannot read radio signals.

 

There are two modes in which a radio telescope works; active and passive. In active mode an electromagnetic wave, in the radio wavelengths, is sent out in the direction of the object which one wishes to observer. The wave is the reflected by the object and subsequently detected by the radio telescope. In this more they can observe asteroids, satellites, etc. In passive mode the radio telescope only receives signals. In this more they can observe things like stars, pulsars, quasars, galaxies, the CMBR, etc.

 

Off hand I would imagine that a radio telescope, in active mode, would only be useful in observing an NEO after its existance was detected.

 

An array of radio telescopes work by the principles of interferometry. This requires the distance between the dishes to remain fixed. If the distance changed by even a centimeter (over thousands of miles) then it would become useless. Can distances like this be maintained?

 

What benefit do you see of using radio telescopes over optical ones in detecting Near Earth Objects (NEO)?

[Jason Chapman]

Can you show me where? That would not only be news to me but it also seems quite impossible. A digital camera takes images using CCDs which are designed to record optical images. A radio telescope is, by definition, an instrument that receives radio signals. A CCD cannot read radio signals.

 

 

Here's the link here, I may have been wrong in using the term digital camera, sorry.

 

http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/051221_pan-starrs.html

 

‘Sisyphus’ asked why ten of these deep space radio telescopes, effective you would only need one, if its far enough out without any objects to block its view then it could scan most of the sky. However ten of these telescopes in a circle at the outer edges of our solar system could individually more sky, or if one telescope picks up something of interest it could communicate with the others, which could focus on the object in question and relay the information back to earth. As for what could be passing through our solar system which could warrant and early warning system is anyone’s guess, take your pick.

[granpa]

I was wondering do we have a space based early warning system for tracking asteroids. I know that they have radio telescopes equipped with high powered digital cameras which scan the skies for danger, but how do they compensate for atmosphere distortion with these cameras.

I’m currently working on my latest idea, a deep space radio telescope. There are a few uses for this deep space radio telescope.

 

To Track objects entering our solar system, to determine if they’re a threat.

To peer deeper into the cosmos, monitor background radiation.

To relay communication with any deep space vessels, thus preventing signal degradation.

 

You could position up to ten of these tracking station ant various point in our solar system, beyond the orbit of Neptune as an early warning system.

 

 

Just a crazy idea of course.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Very_Long_Baseline_Interferometry

[proton]

Here's the link here, I may have been wrong in using the term digital camera, sorry.

 

http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/051221_pan-starrs.html

Thanks. I don't see where in that page it mentions radio telescopes. Perhaps you did make an error after all.