The Pioneer Anomaly

So there is this article about the pioneer anomaly in the LA times this
week.

But they never really came up with a good reason or new theory.

Is anyone up on this? Are there any good Ideas why the two ships are a
little off course?
--
Hike High Mountains
Fish for Wild Trout

Mark F. wrote:
So there is this article about the pioneer anomaly in the LA times this
week.

But they never really came up with a good reason or new theory.



Background Pioneer 10 Anomalous Acceleration
http://www.google.com/search?q=pione...te%3AarXiv.org

Most likely sorted out with Newtonian Mechanics--Just need data
that's too hard to get.

Sam Wormley wrote:
Mark F. wrote:
So there is this article about the pioneer anomaly in the LA times this
week.

But they never really came up with a good reason or new theory.

Background Pioneer 10 Anomalous Acceleration
http://www.google.com/search?q=pione...te%3AarXiv.org

Most likely sorted out with Newtonian Mechanics--Just need data
that's too hard to get.

I agree with the need more data bit. However, there have been a number
of attempts to sort it out with Newtonian Mechanics and typically they
can't explain the anomalous acceleration. Having an identical Pioneer
on Earth would help a lot, but this isn't the only long-distance
experiment that doesn't quite agree with theory in recent times.

IMO current Physics is wrong. No, I don't have a better theory, so
don't even go there.

For the OP: It's an open question. There is no generally accepted
explanation for the Pioneer Anomaly. It is reasonable to expect a dull
explanation will be found; it is also reasonable to explore the more
imaginative options.


Tim
--
This is not my signature.

On Thu, 23 Dec 2004 21:22:16 GMT, "Mark F." wrote:

So there is this article about the pioneer anomaly in the LA times this
week.

But they never really came up with a good reason or new theory.

Is anyone up on this? Are there any good Ideas why the two ships are a
little off course?

When they finally get through all the testing, probes and analysis,
they will probably find it's some kind of instrument error. Neither of
the Voyagers exhibitted the anomaly, therefore it probably does not
exist.

StarLost wrote:
On Thu, 23 Dec 2004 21:22:16 GMT, "Mark F." wrote:

So there is this article about the pioneer anomaly in the LA times this
week.

But they never really came up with a good reason or new theory.

Is anyone up on this? Are there any good Ideas why the two ships are a
little off course?

When they finally get through all the testing, probes and analysis,
they will probably find it's some kind of instrument error. Neither of
the Voyagers exhibitted the anomaly, therefore it probably does not
exist.

It can't be measured in the Voyagers as the 3-axis stabilisation (as
opposed to the Pioneers' spin-stabilisation) contributes too much
uncertainty. Not being able to measure something doesn't mean it isn't
there.


Tim
--
This is not my signature.