| Subj: | FW: Phobos & Deimos |
| Date: | 11/8/01 1:26:38 PM Pacific Standard Time |
| From: (ANON, ) To: bardsquill@aol.com ('Kent Steadman') |
|
WOW. What a response I got this time. Well, it seems that the sightings of Phobos and Deimos happened, sort of. By process of elimination, it appears that amateur astronomers have made a sighting of what must have been the two moons. It is also apparent that we need to be in touch with other observatories to further confirm other sightings that might have been made since June, 2001 and which may have been clearer. The sharp worded response to my follow up question caught me by surprise but I accept it in the spirit in which it was sent. At least I got a swift response and this helps in the investigation.
Thanks,
ANON
-----Original Message-----
From:
ANON.jpl.nasa.gov [SMTP:ANON.jpl.nasa.gov]
Sent:
Thursday, November 08, 2001 4:07 PM
To:
ANON,
Subject:
RE: Phobos & Deimos
I don't understand your confusion. Are you
expecting us to see disks
on these moons or something?
Look. We didn't have the scope on Mars long
enough to detect motion,
because we were already as far South as the scope
permits and couldn't
keep Mars in there more than one hour right around
the time it was
transiting the meridian. Two people, without
knowing where the moons
were originally, spotted two starlike objects, which
is all you're
going to see, in two places around Mars. After
confirming that they
were seeing the same two objects, we checked Sky
and Telescope mag for
the true positions of the moons that night and confirmed
that they
saw them. That's it. As far as myself
and the two people involved,
they spotted the moons.
It would have been nice to keep the scope on Mars
long enough to see
movement in one of the moons, but that was not possible,
nor was it
possible to check them on another night using the
same scope. So we
went with the third best option, which is to check
for an object in
that position. This we did, so I gave them
credit for the sighting.
If this is a problem, sorry, but we're not
professionals.
As for any spottings in larger scopes, I recommend
you go to the
ALPO sight and try and obtain information from
them. I'm not a
Mars expert or affecionado; I had one chance to see
it through the
60-inch and I took it.
And if you can reply in plain text mode I'd appreciate it. Thanks!
Clear and Steady Nights.
------------------------
From: "ANON, "
Subject: RE: Phobos & Deimos
Date: Thu, 8 Nov 2001 15:20:58 -0500
To: .jpl.nasa.gov'"
> Wait, I'm confused. Are you saying that
a CLEAR sighting was not
> apparent but star like objects were seen and
since they were in the
> region of where the two moons should have been,
you are attributing
> THIS sighting to the moons? When you say
that you gave them the
> sighting, this means that THEY were sure that
they were looking at
> the moons? Are there no other sightings
of the two moons in larger
> telescopes since June 2001? Thanks for
helping me = clear this up.
I find that I'm not clear on what was seen.
>
> Thanks,
>
> ANON
>
> -----Original
Message-----
> From:
ANON.jpl.nasa.gov
[SMTP:ANON.jpl.nasa.gov]
> Sent: Thursday,
November 08, 2001 2:17 PM
> To: = =
ANON,
>
Subject: = Re: Phobos & Deimos
>
> Hi !
>
> Well, I was careful to ask everyone that I heard
claimed they saw it
> that night, and other than ANON and ANONI don't
think
> anyone else did. However, the moons were
where they claimed to have
> detected faint starlike objects, so I gave them
the sighting.
>
> And yes, I said moons, so
it's both.
>
> Clear and
Steady = Nights!
>
>
> ------------------------
> From: "ANON, "
> Subject: Phobos
& Deimos =
> Date: Thu, 8 Nov
2001 14:08:51 = -0500
> To: ' =
<ANON.jpl.nasa.gov>
>
> > I was pleased to read your recent report
on your 3D nights work
> > observing Mars using the Mt. Wilson 60-inch
telescope. I was
> > quite interested in the story that the
two moons were not
> > sighted.
> > ;=3D You mention that "ANON gave confirmation,
as
> > did the June 2001 issue of Sky and =
Telescope." Are you saying
> > that BOTH moons were positively sighted
by her in June, 2001? Can
> > you confirm this for me please?
> >
> > Thanks,
---------------End of Original Message-----------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Never be afraid to try something new,
Especially if it is from Real Love.
Remember... amateurs built the Ark.
Professionals built the Titanic.
Name:
ANON
E-mail: @jpl.nasa.gov
----------------------------------------------------------------------