Re: Incoming!

n.falla@btopenworld.com Apr 10, 2009

Hi Bill

Thanks for the suggestion, it sounds like a sensible compromise to me.

Cheers

Norman





--- In find_orb@yahoogroups.com, Bill J Gray <pluto@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Norman,
>
> "...I sense that if there were another potential impactor, MPC
> would prefer to handle the publicity."
>
> Perhaps so. But in cases like this, where time is of the essence,
> I'd recommend making some noise on MPML.
>
> MPC has to exercise some restraint in announcing impactors. Were
> they to report a likely impactor, and then had to say "oops" a bit
> later, they would get egg on their faces. The problem with that
> approach is that if you show too much restraint, you might miss a
> really important object (like 2008 TC3).
>
> If you are _not_ a professional, though, there's nothing wrong
> with putting a note on MPML to the effect of: "I think this object
> might hit us. Would somebody please get an image or two so I'll know
> for sure?" People will give you a break if you turn out to be wrong.
> MPC might not get that sort of break.
>
> The important thing here (and I'm confident the folks at MPC would
> agree with me on this) is that objects of this sort get observed as
> briskly as possible. And the quickest way to get the word out there,
> and to get telescopes pointed at an object, is with a brief post to MPML.
>
> -- Bill
>