Sun's Focus Comes First, Interstellar Target Comes Second

Details Sun's Focus Comes First, Interstellar Target Comes Second Sun's Focus Comes First, Interstellar Target Comes Second

Feb 2007

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2007aipc..886..215m&link_type=abstract

NEW TRENDS IN ASTRODYNAMICS AND APPLICATIONS III. AIP Conference Proceedings, Volume 886, pp. 215-234 (2007).

Physics

Solar Physics, Relativity And Gravitation, Gravitational Lenses And Luminous Arcs, Spaceborne And Space Research Instruments, Apparatus, And Components, Astronomical And Space-Research Instrumentation

Scientific paper

The nearest stellar system, Alpha Centauri, is located about 4.40 light-years away. This amounts to 278,261 AU. But at only 550 AU, or, more generally, at only about 1,000 AU, the focus of the gravity lens of the Sun is found, which is then 278 times closer than our nearest interstellar target. In other words, assuming equal engineering problems, the trip to the Sun's focus takes 278 times less than the trip to the nearest stellar target. This makes the Sun's gravity focus a reasonable target for our probes to reach within this century. But there is more. Before we send any probe towards even the nearest stellar system, we'll be in the need to have a good radio map of that stellar system, as well as of everything else that maybe on the way. Thus, we need a huge radio magnification of these objects, and nothing is better than the huge magnification provided by the gravitational lens of the Sun. In conclusion, sending a first probe to 1,000 AU in the direction opposite to the target stellar system clearly must be done before any interstellar flight to that stellar system is even designed. To the stars, by steps. Ad astra, incrementis!

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Sun's Focus Comes First, Interstellar Target Comes Second does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Sun's Focus Comes First, Interstellar Target Comes Second, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Sun's Focus Comes First, Interstellar Target Comes Second will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-734718