dgd@ukc.UUCP (D.G.Dixon) (11/13/83)
On a tv interview with one of the IRAS team I heard it said that it will take approximately 10 years to analyse the data from IRAS. This might be one reason why recovery of the device is not a top priority. I believe that there are two more IR astronomical satellites planned, though, b but do not know when they are to be launched. dgd.
giles@ucf-cs.UUCP (11/16/83)
I also heard that comment about how long a *full* analysis of the data will take, but all in all, I would prefer to have a warehouse full of unanalysed data spanning a few continous decades than just a few 1-2 year "bursts" fully analyzed. After all, in a few hundred years (or sooner) we may *desperately* need good base-line astronomical data which is just "interesting" today. One good example is the sun's output: is it really 4% variable (source unknown); is it pulsating because it switches between thermonuclear and gravitational collapse for its power (neutrino paradox), .... As I said, these are just matters of curiousity for a few scientist now; but if we are ever at the point where we will have to consider macro- engineering the earth itself (such as if the antartic icecap starts to slid into the ocean), we will need then to ensure we do not choose the worst of two evils. (re: example -- macroengineering the earth so that the mean temperature drops by 4 degrees C, then discovering that it was only a solar "burb" as we enter a severe iceage aggravated by the macroengineering.) Of course, this implies long-term planning; something definitely lacking in the last few administrations. (Proof: look at the Federal Deficit.) Unfortunately, if IRAS is in polar orbit I can't see any way to save it either. Also, your subject heading is definitely less ambiguous. I did not realize how ambiguous mine was until after submission. Sorry for any severe shocks it may have caused. Bruce Giles decvax!ucf-cs!giles (UUCP) UCF, Dept of Math, Orlando Fl 32816 (Snail)
REM%MIT-MC@sri-unix.UUCP (11/16/83)
From: Robert Elton Maas <REM @ MIT-MC> Ten years to analyze IRAS data?? Let's get funding to put more computers to work analyzing the data!! Then when we expect it to be all analyzed within a year, let's revive IRAS!
elt@astrovax.UUCP (Ed Turner) (11/18/83)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------- The problem with reducing IRAS data is almost certainly *not* computer time. The limiting resource in almost all such scientific problems is the human brain time (i.e., attention by some competent researcher) needed to understand the results.
krueger@uiuccsb.UUCP (11/20/83)
#R:sri-arpa:-1369900:uiuccsb:15700006:000:588 uiuccsb!krueger Nov 19 15:30:00 1983 And while more computer resources are being obtained, let's not forget to acquire more astronomers to interpret what the computers spit out. To me, "analysis of the data" would not be complete without a thorough set of hypotheses to explain the data. Perhaps this is what is going to take 10 years, and it might be best not to rush it, for the capabilities of the next IRAS-like endeavor might be enhanced by understanding as much as possible the data currently available. J.W.Krueger ...!ihnp4!uiucdcs!krueger at the U of IL, CS Dept (Not an astronomer, just interested)