Starship Asterisk*

Orion over Green Bank

Explanation: What will the huge Green Bank Telescope discover tonight? Pictured, the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope (GBT) on the lower right is the largest fully-pointable single-dish radio telescope in the world. With a central dish larger than a football field, the GBT is nestled in the hills of West Virginia, USA in a radio quiet zone where the use of cell phones, WiFi emitters, and even microwave ovens are limited. The GBT explores our universe not only during the night -- but during the day, too, since the daytime sky is typically dark in radio waves. Taken in late January, the featured image was planned for months to get the setting location of Orion just right. The image is a composite of a foreground shot taken over a kilometer away from the GBT, and a background shot built up of long exposures during the previous night. The deep background image of Orion is fitting because the GBT is famous for, among many discoveries, mapping the unusual magnetic field in the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex.

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Way too many "composites" these days...

For some reason, the blue color seems so unreal to me;
but maybe it's just my perception!
It would be nice if their SETI work gives dividends. This is so embarrassing; I can't get my paws out!
What a cute kitty! 🥰

IS..
The GBT explores our universe not only during the night -- but during the day, too, since the daytime sky is typically dark in radio waves.

Should Be..
The GBT explores our universe not only during the night -- but during the day, too, since the daytime sky is ALSO BRIGHT in radio waves.

N2LO@comcast.net

Dan wrote: ↑Wed Feb 23, 2022 11:26 am Way too many "composites" these days...

Agree.

N2LO wrote: ↑Wed Feb 23, 2022 1:28 pm IS..
The GBT explores our universe not only during the night -- but during the day, too, since the daytime sky is typically dark in radio waves.

Should Be..
The GBT explores our universe not only during the night -- but during the day, too, since the daytime sky is ALSO BRIGHT in radio waves.

N2LO@comcast.net

Yes. Also: "the use of cell phones...IS limited", not "ARE limited".

Dan wrote: ↑Wed Feb 23, 2022 11:26 am Way too many "composites" these days...

Virtually every image is a "composite".

I am always amazed at how many things in WV are named after Robert C. Byrd... The king of pork spending.

Eric wrote: ↑Wed Feb 23, 2022 1:59 pm

N2LO wrote: ↑Wed Feb 23, 2022 1:28 pm IS..
The GBT explores our universe not only during the night -- but during the day, too, since the daytime sky is typically dark in radio waves.

Should Be..
The GBT explores our universe not only during the night -- but during the day, too, since the daytime sky is ALSO BRIGHT in radio waves.

N2LO@comcast.net

Yes. Also: "the use of cell phones...IS limited", not "ARE limited".

Actually, regarding the 'dark' versus 'light' distinction, no. I believe the original text is correct. The daytime sky is bright in optical light, hence it's not a suitable time for optical telescopic observations. In contrast, the night time sky is dark in visible light, meaning that visible light sources outside the atmosphere can shine through.

Similarly, the daytime sky is dark in radio waves since radio sources outside the atmosphere can get through, just as with the night time sky.

I see some posts saying the image is a fake. However, I am having trouble seeing anything fake about it. The foreground appears to have been accurately placed over the background. The objects in the foreground (building, telescope, forest, etc.) are actually there. The sky image is showing what is actually there. Granted, if we stood there and looked at this scene with our own eyes we wouldn't see all that we see in this photo. But I think of that as a case where the photo shows more of reality than our own eyes show us. I am so glad we have technology and techniques (including compositing) and people skilled at using them to show us much more of the real universe than we can otherwise perceive.

DonB312 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 1:02 am I see some posts saying the image is a fake. However, I am having trouble seeing anything fake about it. The foreground appears to have been accurately placed over the background. The objects in the foreground (building, telescope, forest, etc.) are actually there. The sky image is showing what is actually there. Granted, if we stood there and looked at this scene with our own eyes we wouldn't see all that we see in this photo. But I think of that as a case where the photo shows more of reality than our own eyes show us. I am so glad we have technology and techniques (including compositing) and people skilled at using them to show us much more of the real universe than we can otherwise perceive.

Well said!