Picturing a universe that's out of sight (Forwarded)

In message , Andrew Yee
writes
Office of News and Public Affairs
Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts

December 11, 2003

Picturing a universe that's out of sight

SIRTF will stay in Earth's shadow as it circles the sun,

Surely not?
--
Rabbit arithmetic - 1 plus 1 equals 10
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Jonathan Silverlight wrote:
In message , Andrew Yee
writes
Office of News and Public Affairs
Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts

December 11, 2003

Picturing a universe that's out of sight

SIRTF will stay in Earth's shadow as it circles the sun,

Surely not?

Oooohhh, bad one. It's on an Earth-trailing orbit that falls behind us by
something like 0.1 AU per year. Sadly, the Earth-Sun L2 point ismuch
too far away for that. Or maybe not "sadly", as you'd have a power
problem with solar cells... Oddly enough, the Earth can be a bigger
thermal issue for cryogenic observatories than the Sun.

(Okay, you'll all get your chance with one of mine in a few weeks...)

Bill Keel