The Bicker Board

[TomK]

Plus, I know who you are.

And I know you.. so?

No, you don't know me. As far as I know, we've never met. However, I know who you are. I know you have no qualifications in physics or astrophysics, and have no background in astronomy. You take photos as part of your daily life and are interested in volcanoes, having used several aliases on PW. You pretend to be a native Hawaiian, but you grew up in California, which you revealed when speaking with Art Bell.

On the other hand, I have a PhD in astrophysics, have published several peer-reviewed papers (which I posted here in PW in case you've forgotten), have worked with telescopes for around 40 years, and know a thing or two about them.

And you think you can bullshit me about how an orbital telescope is used?

[TomK]

No, you don't know me.

That's funny.. good luck with your delusions.

Rob, MM2, someone, please delete this nonsense.

That hit, and yet you opened the door.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

If you're claiming the Hubble is being used for military purposes, then it's your burden to show how it is.

Here’s the background on my comment relating to the above.
I know very little about satellites, other than checking Heavens Above for times orbiting stuff is passing over Puna, and watching them.

Someone I know well has a military background and worked with satellites at one point in his career.
Once, when it was not yet determined that funds would be available to repair the Hubble, we were taking and he said with conviction that it would be repaired.  When asked how he knew he replied, you don’t think it only looks OUT from earth do you?

He offered no additional information, and it is possible he was joking around.  But maybe not.

Maybe not because early in his career he worked in black ops for a blue chip corporation, in satellite reconnaissance programming.  At one point a man with a briefcase walked into their workplace, with a level of security clearance my anonymous friend had never seen before, took out some papers and asked whether they could make adjustments to the satellite as described.  They said yes.  Then he added, you understand you’re not to tell anyone that it will have these new capabilities, including the designated operators?

So the Hubble story has credible background, a reliable source, but some question about whether it was said in all seriousness or in jest. 

Even when dealing with Top Secret, there might be Top TOP Secret.

[MyManao]

Even when dealing with Top Secret, there might be Top TOP Secret.

Same same with Pohakuloa.. secrets are secrets. I know someone very similar to your story but about here.. and some guy going on saying they aren't and he knows better is more an example of the boundaries of a closed mind's regimented thinking and all that..

['elepaio]

Help me with nostalgia . .Who remembers how "they" said they could read the date on a dime / quarter from 25 miles up. I wanna say this was mid 70s .. And i always thought . . Thats only what they telling us.

MyManao You truly "own" Tom and you spot on about decline. PWDS is real ..lol.bahah.

@ Tom... when you inevitably ask for "proof" its every day bra. Then next you call me a sock puppet or say i don't understand your gibberish etc? Please take MM suggestions under advisement.


Peace and a positive week ahead to all.

[TomK]

Look, the problem with the Hubble HST) is that the data it collects are public, and you can check to see what it has observed after the proprietary period of a year after the data were taken. That year-long period is intended to allow scientists to use the data for their own research, as they were the ones who made the case for using the telescope.

The next issue is that the HST is not capable of observing stuff on the Earth's surface, nor is it capable of observing spy satellites in LEO. It simply can't do it; it's physically impossible for it to do so. Now, after all that, how would the military want to use the HST? What possible purpose could they use it for? No one can answer that question because it's not what the HST does.

I realize conspiracy theorists take a lack of information or data as something must be going on, but in this case, it's simple physics. What military purpose can the HST be used for? Looking at Russian bases on Mars? No one is coming up with an argument that comes close to explaining how the military could use the HST.

[randomq]

It used to be, Obie. But not under present circumstances.

[randomq]

Look, this is actually a fascinating question that comes up more than you'd think. The main issues aren't really optical - Hubble's 2.4-meter mirror would give fantastic resolution on Earth targets - we're talking about maybe 10-15 cm pixels from its orbital altitude of ~550 km, assuming we could somehow deal with the other problems.

The real killer is the angular velocity. When you're looking at something essentially "sideways" from low Earth orbit, targets zip across your field of view at something like 4 degrees per second. That's insanely fast for a telescope designed to track objects that appear stationary over hours.

But anyway, you'd need serious filtering to darken the images, and you'd need much faster readout CCDs. The current UVIS detector on WFC3 takes about 3 seconds for a full frame readout - way too long when your target is screaming past.

[ironyak]

As a quick aside, Mike Godwin of Godwin's Law (which states "As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one.") has said that the rule "should function less as a conversation ender and more as a conversation starter" about where such comparisons are appropriate. He also said "Yes, it's okay to compare Trump to Hitler. Don't let me stop you ... when people draw parallels between Donald Trump’s 2024 candidacy and Hitler’s progression from fringe figure to Great Dictator, we aren’t joking. Those of us who hope to preserve our democratic institutions need to underscore the resemblance before we enter the twilight of American democracy."

Anyhow, back to the hurricanes - perhaps if because of the unqualified leadership and budget cuts we can't predict them anymore, we can nuke them instead when they ignore our unique, special, some say magical, mountain deterrents? Look out, it's coming right for us!

[ironyak]

Obie - Since IRONYAK has taken over moderating duties and is reviewing all of my posts and then making corrections could he or she please provide an email address and I will submit all of my posts to them.

WTF are you on about now OBIE? I'm asking questions as much of what you post is unclear and factually inaccurate, often times shown by your own sources. From HECO saying they'll cut down the Waikaloa trees (they didn't), to Biden creating the marine monument (he didn't), to Australian Border Patrol letting in people with far more bags and pots and pans (unlike CBP at HNL), you're like the undisputed champion of the self-own!

I've come to the conclusion that you're not communicating to exchange information but rather to state sentiment, and that we're also supposed to be outraged and incensed at the imaginary circumstances you've invented. Maybe better to go outside and see what you want in the clouds instead, so you can shake your fist at them?

That said, if the Punaweb gears are all working, you should be able to send me an email whenever you want. However, if I have to remove all the nonsense and untruths from your proposed posts then there won't be much to send back so consider any lack of a reply a signal to try harder!! (extra !!! for old times sake ;)