Could we turn the sun into a gigantic telescope?
Could we turn the sun into a gigantic telescope?
Using a phenomenon known as gravitational lensing, it might be possible to use the sun as a gigantic telescope to peer deep into space.
I like how the article discounts other deep space telescope ideas because they would require more advanced technology than we already possess....but then is like "but if we use the sun, all we have to do is send a whole bunch of spacecraft 3 times farther than the farthest thing we've ever sent".
It's an interesting idea. But even if we got the required satellites that far out, at that distance, how could you expect to aim this sun telescope? Or would it just be stuck with whatever it's currently pointed at?
The satellites would still orbit the Sun, so you’d get a look at anything opposite the ecliptic at whatever its orbital period is. The parallax at those distances (seems like) is so great, even with long collection times you’d have probably years worth of exposure before a target moves out of the primary “lens”.
You scientist always told us to never stare at the sun and now you want to use it as a telescope!!!
We've been doing this since 1919. Usually we use other objects, I'm guessing because the sun is so bright.