P3D Re: the 2D Heavens

[George Gioumousis <georggms@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Rob wrote
> 
> > 
> > If it weren't the case, astronomers wouldn't have to wait 6 months in
> > order to detect parallax between the nearer and farther stars, using the
> > baseline of the earth's orbit around the sun; they could do it nightly
> > using your methodology.  
> ]
>    Even this only provides enough parallax for scientific instruments,
> not stereography.  I once though it would be neat to take pictures of
> the night sky at opposite seasons to use as a stereo base - until I did
> the math. 
>    Using the earth's orbital extremes as a stereo base (about 180
> million miles), is a hyperstereo of about 4 trillion to one!
>    Sounds great, until you consider the closest star (alpha Centauri,
> unless they've found a closer one recently) is about 25 trillion miles
> away.  Using the orbit as a stereo base will make alp Cen look like it's
> only 6 miles away!  way too far for stereo.
>    Kinda makes you appreciate the vastness of outer space, eh?
>    Rob
>    "Everything I have is Y1.96K compliant"
> 
However, there was a very nice stereo of the moon in Stereo World a while
ago. Took careful planning to catch the two pictures at just the right 
time in the orbit. Of course is pretty close by intersellar standards.

George 
> 


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