How much can you learn about a planet while in its orbit?
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Suppose a team of astronauts have travelled to another solar system, and are currently living in a craft which is in Medium Earth Orbit of a planet which has oceans, continents, and complex life. Assume that among them are people of every relevant field of science, and onboard there is all equipment necessary for your answer.
Essentially, what I want to know is; how much information about this planet can these people accquire while in orbit, without actually setting foot on it or even entering the atmosphere? When I say "information", I mean virtually everything of scientific value - mass, atmospheric composition, topography, temperature, life, you name it.
If this question is broad or opinion-based, I apologize. Please let me know and I'll try my best to amend it accordingly. If you need further clarification, just ask.
EDIT: More clarification, in response to Molot's comment. For the purposes of the question, imagine that the technology they'll be using to find out about the planet is equivalent to modern technology, despite their means of transport being obviously not so.
As I said; "assume . . . onboard there is all equipment necessary". However, as regards "telling what there is to find or what is needed", I'll compose a short list here of the topics the team are interested in, so answerers can let me know what's possible in these fields.
- Mass of the planet and distribution of that mass
- Internal composition of the planet (materials in mantle and core and size of layers)
- Tectonic activity
- Topography
- Composition and density of atmosphere; breathability to humans
- Weather patterns, prevailing winds/currents, wind speed etc.
- Temperature of the air, oceans etc., temperature of the planet's interior
- Presence of life, nature, chemistry and abundance of that life; possibly even observation of individual organisms (See this question: Can I monitor animal movements from space?)
- Biomes
- Ph of land, oceans etc.
- Magnetic field
That's all I can think of right now, I might add to the list later on. Essentially, I'd like to know what the scientists can and can't find out about these subjects, or whether they're possible to study from orbit at all. Hopefully this helps.
science-based technology science
|
show 3 more comments
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
Suppose a team of astronauts have travelled to another solar system, and are currently living in a craft which is in Medium Earth Orbit of a planet which has oceans, continents, and complex life. Assume that among them are people of every relevant field of science, and onboard there is all equipment necessary for your answer.
Essentially, what I want to know is; how much information about this planet can these people accquire while in orbit, without actually setting foot on it or even entering the atmosphere? When I say "information", I mean virtually everything of scientific value - mass, atmospheric composition, topography, temperature, life, you name it.
If this question is broad or opinion-based, I apologize. Please let me know and I'll try my best to amend it accordingly. If you need further clarification, just ask.
EDIT: More clarification, in response to Molot's comment. For the purposes of the question, imagine that the technology they'll be using to find out about the planet is equivalent to modern technology, despite their means of transport being obviously not so.
As I said; "assume . . . onboard there is all equipment necessary". However, as regards "telling what there is to find or what is needed", I'll compose a short list here of the topics the team are interested in, so answerers can let me know what's possible in these fields.
- Mass of the planet and distribution of that mass
- Internal composition of the planet (materials in mantle and core and size of layers)
- Tectonic activity
- Topography
- Composition and density of atmosphere; breathability to humans
- Weather patterns, prevailing winds/currents, wind speed etc.
- Temperature of the air, oceans etc., temperature of the planet's interior
- Presence of life, nature, chemistry and abundance of that life; possibly even observation of individual organisms (See this question: Can I monitor animal movements from space?)
- Biomes
- Ph of land, oceans etc.
- Magnetic field
That's all I can think of right now, I might add to the list later on. Essentially, I'd like to know what the scientists can and can't find out about these subjects, or whether they're possible to study from orbit at all. Hopefully this helps.
science-based technology science
What is their tech level? What equipment do they have? A list of information we are getting from orbit today is amazing, and includes things like archeological data (!) so it would be easier if you would tell us what is there to find or what is needed.
– Mołot
3 hours ago
It's interesting to consider but it really is too broad IMHO. Can you narrow it down? For example, you might ask what the aliens can tell about the intelligence of the life forms they can't quite see directly.
– Cyn
3 hours ago
Very similar to my old question about quickly scanning a planet for data and the another users follow-up question about viable settlement locations. However you don't seem to have a time restriction for your scientists so I don't think it's an exact duplicate. It might be useful to narrow the question down, to specify what you think these questions don't answer 4 your purposes.
– EveryBitHelps
3 hours ago
@Cyn I'm currently compiling a list of all fields the scientists are interested in but can't finish it until tomorrow, so it would be greatly appreciated if VTCs were postponed until then.
– SealBoi
3 hours ago
1
@SealBoi I didn't VTC, though I was tempted. I'm less strict than most others about what needs closing. I look forward to seeing your revisions.
– Cyn
3 hours ago
|
show 3 more comments
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
Suppose a team of astronauts have travelled to another solar system, and are currently living in a craft which is in Medium Earth Orbit of a planet which has oceans, continents, and complex life. Assume that among them are people of every relevant field of science, and onboard there is all equipment necessary for your answer.
Essentially, what I want to know is; how much information about this planet can these people accquire while in orbit, without actually setting foot on it or even entering the atmosphere? When I say "information", I mean virtually everything of scientific value - mass, atmospheric composition, topography, temperature, life, you name it.
If this question is broad or opinion-based, I apologize. Please let me know and I'll try my best to amend it accordingly. If you need further clarification, just ask.
EDIT: More clarification, in response to Molot's comment. For the purposes of the question, imagine that the technology they'll be using to find out about the planet is equivalent to modern technology, despite their means of transport being obviously not so.
As I said; "assume . . . onboard there is all equipment necessary". However, as regards "telling what there is to find or what is needed", I'll compose a short list here of the topics the team are interested in, so answerers can let me know what's possible in these fields.
- Mass of the planet and distribution of that mass
- Internal composition of the planet (materials in mantle and core and size of layers)
- Tectonic activity
- Topography
- Composition and density of atmosphere; breathability to humans
- Weather patterns, prevailing winds/currents, wind speed etc.
- Temperature of the air, oceans etc., temperature of the planet's interior
- Presence of life, nature, chemistry and abundance of that life; possibly even observation of individual organisms (See this question: Can I monitor animal movements from space?)
- Biomes
- Ph of land, oceans etc.
- Magnetic field
That's all I can think of right now, I might add to the list later on. Essentially, I'd like to know what the scientists can and can't find out about these subjects, or whether they're possible to study from orbit at all. Hopefully this helps.
science-based technology science
Suppose a team of astronauts have travelled to another solar system, and are currently living in a craft which is in Medium Earth Orbit of a planet which has oceans, continents, and complex life. Assume that among them are people of every relevant field of science, and onboard there is all equipment necessary for your answer.
Essentially, what I want to know is; how much information about this planet can these people accquire while in orbit, without actually setting foot on it or even entering the atmosphere? When I say "information", I mean virtually everything of scientific value - mass, atmospheric composition, topography, temperature, life, you name it.
If this question is broad or opinion-based, I apologize. Please let me know and I'll try my best to amend it accordingly. If you need further clarification, just ask.
EDIT: More clarification, in response to Molot's comment. For the purposes of the question, imagine that the technology they'll be using to find out about the planet is equivalent to modern technology, despite their means of transport being obviously not so.
As I said; "assume . . . onboard there is all equipment necessary". However, as regards "telling what there is to find or what is needed", I'll compose a short list here of the topics the team are interested in, so answerers can let me know what's possible in these fields.
- Mass of the planet and distribution of that mass
- Internal composition of the planet (materials in mantle and core and size of layers)
- Tectonic activity
- Topography
- Composition and density of atmosphere; breathability to humans
- Weather patterns, prevailing winds/currents, wind speed etc.
- Temperature of the air, oceans etc., temperature of the planet's interior
- Presence of life, nature, chemistry and abundance of that life; possibly even observation of individual organisms (See this question: Can I monitor animal movements from space?)
- Biomes
- Ph of land, oceans etc.
- Magnetic field
That's all I can think of right now, I might add to the list later on. Essentially, I'd like to know what the scientists can and can't find out about these subjects, or whether they're possible to study from orbit at all. Hopefully this helps.
science-based technology science
science-based technology science
edited 24 mins ago
Sora Tamashii
1,027124
1,027124
asked 3 hours ago
SealBoi
5,53512058
5,53512058
What is their tech level? What equipment do they have? A list of information we are getting from orbit today is amazing, and includes things like archeological data (!) so it would be easier if you would tell us what is there to find or what is needed.
– Mołot
3 hours ago
It's interesting to consider but it really is too broad IMHO. Can you narrow it down? For example, you might ask what the aliens can tell about the intelligence of the life forms they can't quite see directly.
– Cyn
3 hours ago
Very similar to my old question about quickly scanning a planet for data and the another users follow-up question about viable settlement locations. However you don't seem to have a time restriction for your scientists so I don't think it's an exact duplicate. It might be useful to narrow the question down, to specify what you think these questions don't answer 4 your purposes.
– EveryBitHelps
3 hours ago
@Cyn I'm currently compiling a list of all fields the scientists are interested in but can't finish it until tomorrow, so it would be greatly appreciated if VTCs were postponed until then.
– SealBoi
3 hours ago
1
@SealBoi I didn't VTC, though I was tempted. I'm less strict than most others about what needs closing. I look forward to seeing your revisions.
– Cyn
3 hours ago
|
show 3 more comments
What is their tech level? What equipment do they have? A list of information we are getting from orbit today is amazing, and includes things like archeological data (!) so it would be easier if you would tell us what is there to find or what is needed.
– Mołot
3 hours ago
It's interesting to consider but it really is too broad IMHO. Can you narrow it down? For example, you might ask what the aliens can tell about the intelligence of the life forms they can't quite see directly.
– Cyn
3 hours ago
Very similar to my old question about quickly scanning a planet for data and the another users follow-up question about viable settlement locations. However you don't seem to have a time restriction for your scientists so I don't think it's an exact duplicate. It might be useful to narrow the question down, to specify what you think these questions don't answer 4 your purposes.
– EveryBitHelps
3 hours ago
@Cyn I'm currently compiling a list of all fields the scientists are interested in but can't finish it until tomorrow, so it would be greatly appreciated if VTCs were postponed until then.
– SealBoi
3 hours ago
1
@SealBoi I didn't VTC, though I was tempted. I'm less strict than most others about what needs closing. I look forward to seeing your revisions.
– Cyn
3 hours ago
What is their tech level? What equipment do they have? A list of information we are getting from orbit today is amazing, and includes things like archeological data (!) so it would be easier if you would tell us what is there to find or what is needed.
– Mołot
3 hours ago
What is their tech level? What equipment do they have? A list of information we are getting from orbit today is amazing, and includes things like archeological data (!) so it would be easier if you would tell us what is there to find or what is needed.
– Mołot
3 hours ago
It's interesting to consider but it really is too broad IMHO. Can you narrow it down? For example, you might ask what the aliens can tell about the intelligence of the life forms they can't quite see directly.
– Cyn
3 hours ago
It's interesting to consider but it really is too broad IMHO. Can you narrow it down? For example, you might ask what the aliens can tell about the intelligence of the life forms they can't quite see directly.
– Cyn
3 hours ago
Very similar to my old question about quickly scanning a planet for data and the another users follow-up question about viable settlement locations. However you don't seem to have a time restriction for your scientists so I don't think it's an exact duplicate. It might be useful to narrow the question down, to specify what you think these questions don't answer 4 your purposes.
– EveryBitHelps
3 hours ago
Very similar to my old question about quickly scanning a planet for data and the another users follow-up question about viable settlement locations. However you don't seem to have a time restriction for your scientists so I don't think it's an exact duplicate. It might be useful to narrow the question down, to specify what you think these questions don't answer 4 your purposes.
– EveryBitHelps
3 hours ago
@Cyn I'm currently compiling a list of all fields the scientists are interested in but can't finish it until tomorrow, so it would be greatly appreciated if VTCs were postponed until then.
– SealBoi
3 hours ago
@Cyn I'm currently compiling a list of all fields the scientists are interested in but can't finish it until tomorrow, so it would be greatly appreciated if VTCs were postponed until then.
– SealBoi
3 hours ago
1
1
@SealBoi I didn't VTC, though I was tempted. I'm less strict than most others about what needs closing. I look forward to seeing your revisions.
– Cyn
3 hours ago
@SealBoi I didn't VTC, though I was tempted. I'm less strict than most others about what needs closing. I look forward to seeing your revisions.
– Cyn
3 hours ago
|
show 3 more comments
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
If the spy movies are to be believed, they would also be able to read license plates from orbit. Applying such visual observation technology to more scientific purposes, they could catalog the major life forms, study migration patterns, map the land masses and ocean currents.
Over time they could determine the seasons and track the snowline, determine storm patterns and build a model of planetary weather patterns.
More directly, they should sample the vacuum around their station for remnants of bacteria thrown up out of the atmosphere. If they are lucky and find some, a great deal could be learned concerning the planet's fundamental biology.
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
Whatever can be sensed by satellites orbiting our planet can, in principle, be sensed orbiting around another planet. Just to list a few:
- Mass: since the mass of the orbiting satellite is in principle well known, it is possible to measure not only the total mass of the planet, but also local variation of gravity, thus mapping the internal density distribution of the planet itself.
- Surface and below surface topology: visual inspection and radar scanning can measure the surface topology with a good level of detail. We have already managed to do it on Venus. We can also scan below the surface, to detect buried structures.
- Atmospheric composition: by measuring absorption spectra, it is possible to determine the gases present in the atmosphere, and by observing the dynamics of the atmosphere itself it is also possible to investigate its physics.
- Magnetic field
- Presence of life: some years ago a NASA probe, using Earth for a gravitational kick, measured the planet searching for signature of life. It found them! It is possible to detect the fingerprint of, among others, oxygen and chlorophyll. Not to mention night lights, of course.
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
Assuming that by "without actually setting foot on it or even entering the atmosphere" your scientists cannot deploy landers to the surface of this planet, and are restricted to using orbital satellites only, there is quite a lot that they would be able to learn about this planet. Remote sensing is a booming field of research right Now, so who even knows what will be possible in the future?
The first thing you need to know about remote sensing techniques is the trade-off between spectral resolution and spatial resolution. Hyperspectral imaging can measure on wavelength increments on the scale of nanometers. However, the trade-off is that your pixel size becomes huge in comparison what is possible with monochromatic imaging. As an example, the HiRISE imagery of Mars is monochromatic with a ground resolution of 25×25 cm. Landsat and Sentinel imagery of Earth has a resolution of 10×10 m or coarser, depending on the sensor band you're looking at. The specifications of orbiters with hyperspectral imaging suites escape me at the moment, but I have worked with hyperspectral image cubes of Mars and Earth both in courses for my Bsc and Msc degrees, so I know they exist. I am on my phone right now, so looking up references will have to wait for later.
The second trade-off is another between wavelength and ground resolution: longer wavelengths have coarser maximum ground resolutions.
There is a third kind of resolution that is important when using remote sensing platforms: temporal resolution. In other words: the amount of time that passes before the same patch of surface area is sensed a second (or third, or fourth... you get the idea) time.
Now, all that background information is nice and all, but what does this mean for your scientists? What can they study, using only sensors in the electromagnetic spectrum that are in orbit around the planet's? Like I said, quite a lot. The actual limits of what is possible will be determined by the spatial, spectral, and temporal resolutions of your scientists' observation platforms, but here's a few things we have studied here on Earth, using satellite imagery:
Ocean temperature
Land surface temperature
Weather patterns
Ocean currents
Mineralogic composition of surface bedrock
We've constructed detailed elevation maps
The evolution of glaciers and ice caps
The presence and health of vegetation
The presence of near-surface groundwater
Combining any of these leads to more advanced insights and better understanding of what to study next. And that is not even touching on what you might learn by simply looking for (large) animals on your images.
add a comment |
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
If the spy movies are to be believed, they would also be able to read license plates from orbit. Applying such visual observation technology to more scientific purposes, they could catalog the major life forms, study migration patterns, map the land masses and ocean currents.
Over time they could determine the seasons and track the snowline, determine storm patterns and build a model of planetary weather patterns.
More directly, they should sample the vacuum around their station for remnants of bacteria thrown up out of the atmosphere. If they are lucky and find some, a great deal could be learned concerning the planet's fundamental biology.
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
If the spy movies are to be believed, they would also be able to read license plates from orbit. Applying such visual observation technology to more scientific purposes, they could catalog the major life forms, study migration patterns, map the land masses and ocean currents.
Over time they could determine the seasons and track the snowline, determine storm patterns and build a model of planetary weather patterns.
More directly, they should sample the vacuum around their station for remnants of bacteria thrown up out of the atmosphere. If they are lucky and find some, a great deal could be learned concerning the planet's fundamental biology.
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
If the spy movies are to be believed, they would also be able to read license plates from orbit. Applying such visual observation technology to more scientific purposes, they could catalog the major life forms, study migration patterns, map the land masses and ocean currents.
Over time they could determine the seasons and track the snowline, determine storm patterns and build a model of planetary weather patterns.
More directly, they should sample the vacuum around their station for remnants of bacteria thrown up out of the atmosphere. If they are lucky and find some, a great deal could be learned concerning the planet's fundamental biology.
If the spy movies are to be believed, they would also be able to read license plates from orbit. Applying such visual observation technology to more scientific purposes, they could catalog the major life forms, study migration patterns, map the land masses and ocean currents.
Over time they could determine the seasons and track the snowline, determine storm patterns and build a model of planetary weather patterns.
More directly, they should sample the vacuum around their station for remnants of bacteria thrown up out of the atmosphere. If they are lucky and find some, a great deal could be learned concerning the planet's fundamental biology.
answered 2 hours ago
Henry Taylor
44k869160
44k869160
add a comment |
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
Whatever can be sensed by satellites orbiting our planet can, in principle, be sensed orbiting around another planet. Just to list a few:
- Mass: since the mass of the orbiting satellite is in principle well known, it is possible to measure not only the total mass of the planet, but also local variation of gravity, thus mapping the internal density distribution of the planet itself.
- Surface and below surface topology: visual inspection and radar scanning can measure the surface topology with a good level of detail. We have already managed to do it on Venus. We can also scan below the surface, to detect buried structures.
- Atmospheric composition: by measuring absorption spectra, it is possible to determine the gases present in the atmosphere, and by observing the dynamics of the atmosphere itself it is also possible to investigate its physics.
- Magnetic field
- Presence of life: some years ago a NASA probe, using Earth for a gravitational kick, measured the planet searching for signature of life. It found them! It is possible to detect the fingerprint of, among others, oxygen and chlorophyll. Not to mention night lights, of course.
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
Whatever can be sensed by satellites orbiting our planet can, in principle, be sensed orbiting around another planet. Just to list a few:
- Mass: since the mass of the orbiting satellite is in principle well known, it is possible to measure not only the total mass of the planet, but also local variation of gravity, thus mapping the internal density distribution of the planet itself.
- Surface and below surface topology: visual inspection and radar scanning can measure the surface topology with a good level of detail. We have already managed to do it on Venus. We can also scan below the surface, to detect buried structures.
- Atmospheric composition: by measuring absorption spectra, it is possible to determine the gases present in the atmosphere, and by observing the dynamics of the atmosphere itself it is also possible to investigate its physics.
- Magnetic field
- Presence of life: some years ago a NASA probe, using Earth for a gravitational kick, measured the planet searching for signature of life. It found them! It is possible to detect the fingerprint of, among others, oxygen and chlorophyll. Not to mention night lights, of course.
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
Whatever can be sensed by satellites orbiting our planet can, in principle, be sensed orbiting around another planet. Just to list a few:
- Mass: since the mass of the orbiting satellite is in principle well known, it is possible to measure not only the total mass of the planet, but also local variation of gravity, thus mapping the internal density distribution of the planet itself.
- Surface and below surface topology: visual inspection and radar scanning can measure the surface topology with a good level of detail. We have already managed to do it on Venus. We can also scan below the surface, to detect buried structures.
- Atmospheric composition: by measuring absorption spectra, it is possible to determine the gases present in the atmosphere, and by observing the dynamics of the atmosphere itself it is also possible to investigate its physics.
- Magnetic field
- Presence of life: some years ago a NASA probe, using Earth for a gravitational kick, measured the planet searching for signature of life. It found them! It is possible to detect the fingerprint of, among others, oxygen and chlorophyll. Not to mention night lights, of course.
Whatever can be sensed by satellites orbiting our planet can, in principle, be sensed orbiting around another planet. Just to list a few:
- Mass: since the mass of the orbiting satellite is in principle well known, it is possible to measure not only the total mass of the planet, but also local variation of gravity, thus mapping the internal density distribution of the planet itself.
- Surface and below surface topology: visual inspection and radar scanning can measure the surface topology with a good level of detail. We have already managed to do it on Venus. We can also scan below the surface, to detect buried structures.
- Atmospheric composition: by measuring absorption spectra, it is possible to determine the gases present in the atmosphere, and by observing the dynamics of the atmosphere itself it is also possible to investigate its physics.
- Magnetic field
- Presence of life: some years ago a NASA probe, using Earth for a gravitational kick, measured the planet searching for signature of life. It found them! It is possible to detect the fingerprint of, among others, oxygen and chlorophyll. Not to mention night lights, of course.
edited 1 hour ago
Dubukay
8,45842257
8,45842257
answered 3 hours ago
L.Dutch♦
74k24178356
74k24178356
add a comment |
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
Assuming that by "without actually setting foot on it or even entering the atmosphere" your scientists cannot deploy landers to the surface of this planet, and are restricted to using orbital satellites only, there is quite a lot that they would be able to learn about this planet. Remote sensing is a booming field of research right Now, so who even knows what will be possible in the future?
The first thing you need to know about remote sensing techniques is the trade-off between spectral resolution and spatial resolution. Hyperspectral imaging can measure on wavelength increments on the scale of nanometers. However, the trade-off is that your pixel size becomes huge in comparison what is possible with monochromatic imaging. As an example, the HiRISE imagery of Mars is monochromatic with a ground resolution of 25×25 cm. Landsat and Sentinel imagery of Earth has a resolution of 10×10 m or coarser, depending on the sensor band you're looking at. The specifications of orbiters with hyperspectral imaging suites escape me at the moment, but I have worked with hyperspectral image cubes of Mars and Earth both in courses for my Bsc and Msc degrees, so I know they exist. I am on my phone right now, so looking up references will have to wait for later.
The second trade-off is another between wavelength and ground resolution: longer wavelengths have coarser maximum ground resolutions.
There is a third kind of resolution that is important when using remote sensing platforms: temporal resolution. In other words: the amount of time that passes before the same patch of surface area is sensed a second (or third, or fourth... you get the idea) time.
Now, all that background information is nice and all, but what does this mean for your scientists? What can they study, using only sensors in the electromagnetic spectrum that are in orbit around the planet's? Like I said, quite a lot. The actual limits of what is possible will be determined by the spatial, spectral, and temporal resolutions of your scientists' observation platforms, but here's a few things we have studied here on Earth, using satellite imagery:
Ocean temperature
Land surface temperature
Weather patterns
Ocean currents
Mineralogic composition of surface bedrock
We've constructed detailed elevation maps
The evolution of glaciers and ice caps
The presence and health of vegetation
The presence of near-surface groundwater
Combining any of these leads to more advanced insights and better understanding of what to study next. And that is not even touching on what you might learn by simply looking for (large) animals on your images.
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
Assuming that by "without actually setting foot on it or even entering the atmosphere" your scientists cannot deploy landers to the surface of this planet, and are restricted to using orbital satellites only, there is quite a lot that they would be able to learn about this planet. Remote sensing is a booming field of research right Now, so who even knows what will be possible in the future?
The first thing you need to know about remote sensing techniques is the trade-off between spectral resolution and spatial resolution. Hyperspectral imaging can measure on wavelength increments on the scale of nanometers. However, the trade-off is that your pixel size becomes huge in comparison what is possible with monochromatic imaging. As an example, the HiRISE imagery of Mars is monochromatic with a ground resolution of 25×25 cm. Landsat and Sentinel imagery of Earth has a resolution of 10×10 m or coarser, depending on the sensor band you're looking at. The specifications of orbiters with hyperspectral imaging suites escape me at the moment, but I have worked with hyperspectral image cubes of Mars and Earth both in courses for my Bsc and Msc degrees, so I know they exist. I am on my phone right now, so looking up references will have to wait for later.
The second trade-off is another between wavelength and ground resolution: longer wavelengths have coarser maximum ground resolutions.
There is a third kind of resolution that is important when using remote sensing platforms: temporal resolution. In other words: the amount of time that passes before the same patch of surface area is sensed a second (or third, or fourth... you get the idea) time.
Now, all that background information is nice and all, but what does this mean for your scientists? What can they study, using only sensors in the electromagnetic spectrum that are in orbit around the planet's? Like I said, quite a lot. The actual limits of what is possible will be determined by the spatial, spectral, and temporal resolutions of your scientists' observation platforms, but here's a few things we have studied here on Earth, using satellite imagery:
Ocean temperature
Land surface temperature
Weather patterns
Ocean currents
Mineralogic composition of surface bedrock
We've constructed detailed elevation maps
The evolution of glaciers and ice caps
The presence and health of vegetation
The presence of near-surface groundwater
Combining any of these leads to more advanced insights and better understanding of what to study next. And that is not even touching on what you might learn by simply looking for (large) animals on your images.
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Assuming that by "without actually setting foot on it or even entering the atmosphere" your scientists cannot deploy landers to the surface of this planet, and are restricted to using orbital satellites only, there is quite a lot that they would be able to learn about this planet. Remote sensing is a booming field of research right Now, so who even knows what will be possible in the future?
The first thing you need to know about remote sensing techniques is the trade-off between spectral resolution and spatial resolution. Hyperspectral imaging can measure on wavelength increments on the scale of nanometers. However, the trade-off is that your pixel size becomes huge in comparison what is possible with monochromatic imaging. As an example, the HiRISE imagery of Mars is monochromatic with a ground resolution of 25×25 cm. Landsat and Sentinel imagery of Earth has a resolution of 10×10 m or coarser, depending on the sensor band you're looking at. The specifications of orbiters with hyperspectral imaging suites escape me at the moment, but I have worked with hyperspectral image cubes of Mars and Earth both in courses for my Bsc and Msc degrees, so I know they exist. I am on my phone right now, so looking up references will have to wait for later.
The second trade-off is another between wavelength and ground resolution: longer wavelengths have coarser maximum ground resolutions.
There is a third kind of resolution that is important when using remote sensing platforms: temporal resolution. In other words: the amount of time that passes before the same patch of surface area is sensed a second (or third, or fourth... you get the idea) time.
Now, all that background information is nice and all, but what does this mean for your scientists? What can they study, using only sensors in the electromagnetic spectrum that are in orbit around the planet's? Like I said, quite a lot. The actual limits of what is possible will be determined by the spatial, spectral, and temporal resolutions of your scientists' observation platforms, but here's a few things we have studied here on Earth, using satellite imagery:
Ocean temperature
Land surface temperature
Weather patterns
Ocean currents
Mineralogic composition of surface bedrock
We've constructed detailed elevation maps
The evolution of glaciers and ice caps
The presence and health of vegetation
The presence of near-surface groundwater
Combining any of these leads to more advanced insights and better understanding of what to study next. And that is not even touching on what you might learn by simply looking for (large) animals on your images.
Assuming that by "without actually setting foot on it or even entering the atmosphere" your scientists cannot deploy landers to the surface of this planet, and are restricted to using orbital satellites only, there is quite a lot that they would be able to learn about this planet. Remote sensing is a booming field of research right Now, so who even knows what will be possible in the future?
The first thing you need to know about remote sensing techniques is the trade-off between spectral resolution and spatial resolution. Hyperspectral imaging can measure on wavelength increments on the scale of nanometers. However, the trade-off is that your pixel size becomes huge in comparison what is possible with monochromatic imaging. As an example, the HiRISE imagery of Mars is monochromatic with a ground resolution of 25×25 cm. Landsat and Sentinel imagery of Earth has a resolution of 10×10 m or coarser, depending on the sensor band you're looking at. The specifications of orbiters with hyperspectral imaging suites escape me at the moment, but I have worked with hyperspectral image cubes of Mars and Earth both in courses for my Bsc and Msc degrees, so I know they exist. I am on my phone right now, so looking up references will have to wait for later.
The second trade-off is another between wavelength and ground resolution: longer wavelengths have coarser maximum ground resolutions.
There is a third kind of resolution that is important when using remote sensing platforms: temporal resolution. In other words: the amount of time that passes before the same patch of surface area is sensed a second (or third, or fourth... you get the idea) time.
Now, all that background information is nice and all, but what does this mean for your scientists? What can they study, using only sensors in the electromagnetic spectrum that are in orbit around the planet's? Like I said, quite a lot. The actual limits of what is possible will be determined by the spatial, spectral, and temporal resolutions of your scientists' observation platforms, but here's a few things we have studied here on Earth, using satellite imagery:
Ocean temperature
Land surface temperature
Weather patterns
Ocean currents
Mineralogic composition of surface bedrock
We've constructed detailed elevation maps
The evolution of glaciers and ice caps
The presence and health of vegetation
The presence of near-surface groundwater
Combining any of these leads to more advanced insights and better understanding of what to study next. And that is not even touching on what you might learn by simply looking for (large) animals on your images.
answered 2 hours ago
TvB
1192
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What is their tech level? What equipment do they have? A list of information we are getting from orbit today is amazing, and includes things like archeological data (!) so it would be easier if you would tell us what is there to find or what is needed.
– Mołot
3 hours ago
It's interesting to consider but it really is too broad IMHO. Can you narrow it down? For example, you might ask what the aliens can tell about the intelligence of the life forms they can't quite see directly.
– Cyn
3 hours ago
Very similar to my old question about quickly scanning a planet for data and the another users follow-up question about viable settlement locations. However you don't seem to have a time restriction for your scientists so I don't think it's an exact duplicate. It might be useful to narrow the question down, to specify what you think these questions don't answer 4 your purposes.
– EveryBitHelps
3 hours ago
@Cyn I'm currently compiling a list of all fields the scientists are interested in but can't finish it until tomorrow, so it would be greatly appreciated if VTCs were postponed until then.
– SealBoi
3 hours ago
1
@SealBoi I didn't VTC, though I was tempted. I'm less strict than most others about what needs closing. I look forward to seeing your revisions.
– Cyn
3 hours ago