A sad day in astronomy. One of the modern era workhorses will be brought down . I wonder what sort of technology will be employed in the next telescope?

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We need an independent European Space Telescope (and European Positioning System, too) since it is no more possible to relay on NASA-Services...
But IIRC both are already planned and coming soon.

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Long ago, maybe 7 years, I read about a telescope made from a rotating disc, about 7 meters accross, which mercury was poured onto, and made a perfect surface, and was cheaper, or more accurate than conventional polished silver mirrors.

I would argue for (in my ignorance as to whether it's a good idea), that we, post haste, put optical and radio telescopes on the moon.

These could be bigger than the biggest telescopes ever built, because of the low gravity on the moon. Then you have the screening of electromagnetic communications from the earth on radio telescopes, and no atmospheric interference for both radio and optical telescopes. And maybe even the Van Allen belts might not interfere. And when the moon is eclipsed by the earth, almost no solar wind (if that might have a part to play in distorting our view, I don't know. Although the field would be small, just the section screened by the earth to the point where the solar wind coverges again. Perhaps 5 or 10 million miles.) And again, more speculation on my part, but maybe it would be better to be on a stable surface, than like the Hubble, constantly orbiting with air resistance.

This is assuming it's built on the far side of the moon.

We might even be able to see so far, that we could read their lincense plates.

Hubble is the best telescope we have!! And NASA want's to scrap it? What are they thinking?

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Hmmm, it really wonders me... at one thing there are plans about Moon/Mars-missions, and then they want to give up Hubble... I guess for Astronomy and Cosmology the Hubble telescope would be more important...

Steffen

It's a heavy blow for the Astronomer community. I dare
not think of the booking pressure which will befall Hubble
now that we know its days are counted. It will be nigh
impossible to get observing-time, even for us
professional astronomers.

There are plans for a next generation Space telescope, but I
havent heard anything about any fixed plans as of yet -
NASA and ESA were talking about joining forces on that
one. The next really big thing is DARWIN though. It will
have the possibility to image (through interferometry)
planets in other solar systems. But that is still some 15
years away. Perhaps plans are sped up now that the Hubble
project has a definite deadline. :-/
.
SlimJim

@Atheist
Quote:

This is assuming it's built on the far side of the moon

Yes there are plans for the moon as well, although no firm
decisions as of yet (that I've heard of). DARWIN is planned
and funded however, and is to be placed directly in space
though. It's a set of satellites separated immense distances
apart, thus allowing for massive resolution through
intererometry techniques (it's thus not a classical "optical"
construct).

@MagicSN:

[...]

> at one thing there are plans about Moon/Mars-missions, and then they
> want to give up Hubble



But don't you see? They don't want Hubble as a witness when they fake
their manned landing on Mars!



[...]

Best regards,

Niels

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I dont suffer from Insanity - I enjoy it

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Curiously, I had just heard a radio show on Friday where two astronomers predicted that the establishing of a moon base would in fact extend Hubble's life, as it would be very convenient to stop there along the way.

They also said however that the same moon base would render Hubble obsolete, since Hubble has to deal with certain sorts of interference from earth, that a moon base telescope would not have to deal with.

Here's hoping...

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I've decided to follow an awful lot of people I respect and leave AmigaWorld. If for some reason you want to talk to me, it shouldn't take much effort to find me.

Quote:

Curiously, I had just heard a radio show on Friday where two astronomers predicted that the establishing of a moon base would in fact extend Hubble's life, as it would be very convenient to stop there along the way.

No offense, but that sounds very weird. Why would you use
HST as a temporary platform towards the moon!? I think
you must really mean the international space station (ISS)?
.
SlimJim

Quote:

But don't you see? They don't want Hubble as a witness when they fake their manned landing on Mars!

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Hopefully, With Bush's new space initiative there will be a revival in the X-33 project or new research into replacing the shuttle fleet. Not to mention replacing Hubble, NASA already has a plan. They just need funding.

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