|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Rendezvous with Rama
Chaps
A C Clarke's Rendezvous with Rama had a large extraterrestrial vessel paying a visit to our solar system, with it being spotted somewhere out near Jupiter. I've got two questions 1 -with current and near future technology, would we be certain to spot something like this coming into our solar system early on, or could it well get much closer to us without being spotted? 2 - how close could such a vessel get to Earth, without being spotted if it tried to hide ie if it came in keeping the sun between itself and us, and then 'hid' behind, say, Mars or Venus and they moved closer to Earth on their orbit Not that I'm expecting this to happen, but more a question of scientific robustness of Science Fiction M |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Rendezvous with Rama
On Mar 16, 8:59 am, Maurice W wrote:
Chaps A C Clarke's Rendezvous with Rama had a large extraterrestrial vessel paying a visit to our solar system, with it being spotted somewhere out near Jupiter. I recall there was once long ago a very good radio adaptation of it. I've got two questions 1 -with current and near future technology, would we be certain to spot something like this coming into our solar system early on, or could it well get much closer to us without being spotted? Depends on whether they were trying to be stealthy. It would be a matter of luck whether one of the whole sky survey systems spotted it assuming small asteroid size and low to moderate albedo. But if they didn't want to be seen a 50-100 year technological advantage would probably be enough for them to remain completely undetected. Imagine a modern stealth plane up against WWII air defences - they would be well below the equipment noise threshold. And it is likely that a lot more than 100 years of technological development is needed for interstellar travel. 2 - how close could such a vessel get to Earth, without being spotted if it tried to hide ie if it came in keeping the sun between itself and us, and then 'hid' behind, say, Mars or Venus and they moved closer to Earth on their orbit It is easier for them to hide by reflecting to us a random view of the empty space behined them. Vey simple pasisve technology. Think of a F-117A with no acute angles and mirror finish on all surfaces. So long as they never reflect radar beams back to their source and leave no engine exhaust which would be a dead giveaway they could follow a ballistic trajectory through the solar system and be virtually undetectable. Regards, Martin Brown |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Rendezvous with Rama
"Martin Brown" wrote: Depends on whether they were trying to be stealthy. LOL! Rama was a metallic cylinder 50 km long and 20 km in diameter; I don't think you could get any less stealthy. ;-) It is easier for them to hide by reflecting to us a random view of the empty space behined them. Vey simple pasisve technology. Think of a F-117A with no acute angles and mirror finish on all surfaces. So long as they never reflect radar beams back to their source and leave no engine exhaust which would be a dead giveaway they could follow a ballistic trajectory through the solar system and be virtually undetectable. Indeed, but Rama was first detected by radar in the story, so we know that it is not trying to mask itself... |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Rendezvous with Rama
On Fri, 16 Mar 2007 08:59:56 +0000, Maurice W wrote:
Chaps A C Clarke's Rendezvous with Rama had a large extraterrestrial vessel paying a visit to our solar system, with it being spotted somewhere out near Jupiter. I've got two questions 1 -with current and near future technology, would we be certain to spot something like this coming into our solar system early on, or could it well get much closer to us without being spotted? No we would not be certain. There is a project called NEAT (near earth asteroid tracking) which looks for asteroids and comets that may pose a threat i.e. hit, earth. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think they search all the sky - just those parts that are visible from america. Of course anyone trying to sneak up would need prior knowledge of the planet's blind spot(s). 2 - how close could such a vessel get to Earth, without being spotted if it tried to hide ie if it came in keeping the sun between itself and us, and then 'hid' behind, say, Mars or Venus and they moved closer to Earth on their orbit It's many years (20+) since I read RvWR, but I recall that the craft were long and thin. Given that, the cross section they present to either a radar probe or reflected sunlight are proportionately small, compared with their actual size. The yanks' current stealth technology is probably good enough to hide a small satellite in L.E.O. If the craft came in fast and from above/below the plane of the ecliptic (i.e. where no-one's looking) then I would expect it could get pretty close, say to within the moon's orbit. Maybe they're here already :-) Not that I'm expecting this to happen, but more a question of scientific robustness of Science Fiction M -- .................................................. ......................... .. never trust a man who, when left alone ...... Pete Lynch . .. in a room with a tea cosy ...... Marlow, England . .. doesn't try it on (Billy Connolly) ..................................... |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Rendezvous with Rama
Peter Lynch wrote
The yanks' current stealth technology is probably good enough to hide a small satellite in L.E.O. AIUI there have been attempts at stealth LEO satellites, only partially successful as a number of them have been tracked by "amateur" satellite watchers. If the craft came in fast and from above/below the plane of the ecliptic (i.e. where no-one's looking) then I would expect it could get pretty close, say to within the moon's orbit. Maybe they're here already :-) They've already landed and infiltrated most of the world's governments and corporations. :-) -- Hil |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Rendezvous in space | Rich Godwin | Policy | 2 | January 6th 07 11:24 AM |
It's May 25: Just Another Day, or Rendezvous with Doom? | Double-A | Misc | 3 | May 25th 06 12:44 PM |
DART Rendezvous with MUBLCOM | William R. Thompson | Satellites | 0 | October 2nd 04 02:18 AM |
Rendezvous with Rama | Testing | Astronomy Misc | 7 | March 27th 04 06:59 PM |
Rendezvous with Rama | Richard Cavell | Science | 2 | March 26th 04 11:39 PM |