# Why no recent Ultima Thule images? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 21, 2019, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-recent-ultima-thule-images/828155 "2019-01-21T15:30:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2019, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-recent-ultima-thule-images/828155/1 "2019-01-21T15:30:40Z")
New Horizons should have been sending us data at full speed for the last approximately 11 days now, having reappeared from behind the sun in our view. We got a coarse pretty picture in the big rush after the flyby, and then a few things that appear to have been built out of earlier images such as rotating views. But no higher resolution image in the last 11 days. Why? Yes, they are prioritizing image metadata, so they better understand what order to download the images they get. I read that late February should deliver us more good stuff. But still, I’m surprised we didn’t get one piece of eye candy early on. Say, just one other little curiosity – is there anything at all of interest for New Horizons to see about Ultima Thule in the days after flyby? It’d be backlit, and getting very small in the rear view mirror (so to speak), but there might be something they’d check for, such as light scattering from things orbiting around Ultima Thule. Just wondering. ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2019, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-recent-ultima-thule-images/828155/2 "2019-01-21T15:44:22Z")
Off the top of my head there are two factors: First, the New Horizons mission doesn’t have a 100% open-data, instant-sharing policy. The team investigators get a first crack at looking at and analyzing any data, so there is in effect a brief embargo before images are shared with the public. I believe this is in contrast to some other missions, where data is automatically uploaded to public servers. Second, the government shutdown is slowing down any non-essential parts of the mission. All the team members involved with operating the spacecraft, directing science, and receiving data are essential I believe. Some of the basic science roles might not be, which could slow down the process of reviewing data before releasing it to the public. And any public relations roles are also probably non-essential, which means there’s nobody to do the press releases and press conferences associated with showing off new images. ---
**Author:** ![Jet\_Jaguar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jet_jaguar/32/3562_2.png) [@Jet\_Jaguar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jet_Jaguar)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2019, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-recent-ultima-thule-images/828155/3 "2019-01-21T16:46:43Z")
Another factor is that New Horizons happened to pass behind the sun just after it’s flyby. That caused a radio blackout that lasted about a week. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2019, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-recent-ultima-thule-images/828155/4 "2019-01-21T17:50:13Z")
> [@Jet\_Jaguar](#): > > Another factor is that New Horizons happened to pass behind the sun just after it’s flyby. That caused a radio blackout that lasted about a week. A fact the OP addressed specifically in the first post. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2019, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-recent-ultima-thule-images/828155/5 "2019-01-21T17:54:07Z")
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**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2019, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-recent-ultima-thule-images/828155/6 "2019-01-21T18:31:35Z")
The bitrate is even lower than it was at Pluto. Something like 500 bit/sec. And high-rez images have lots and lots of bits. It will take hours to download a single image. But first they have to figure out which are likely to be the best images, so they don’t waste time on the wrong ones. To do that, they have to download the metadata and analyze it. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2019, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-recent-ultima-thule-images/828155/7 "2019-01-22T17:13:55Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > … It will take hours to download a single image. … Windows XP? ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2019, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-recent-ultima-thule-images/828155/8 "2019-01-22T19:04:04Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > Windows XP? 😕😕 ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2019, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-recent-ultima-thule-images/828155/9 "2019-01-22T20:50:25Z")
Now I’ll never see that picture of Janeway! ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2019, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-recent-ultima-thule-images/828155/10 "2019-01-22T22:30:22Z")
Alan Stern tweeted a while back that there would be a new data release ‘in about 10 days’. Ten days would be tomorrow. So maybe we will see something then. By the way, an excellent resource for all unmanned missions is Unmannedspaceflight.com ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-recent-ultima-thule-images/828155/11 "2019-01-23T18:31:04Z")
I think they found a monolith. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-recent-ultima-thule-images/828155/12 "2019-01-23T18:36:00Z")
> [@MikeF](#): > > I think they found a monolith. I don’t think it’s that drastic-I just think they can see the hatches now. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-recent-ultima-thule-images/828155/13 "2019-01-23T20:34:10Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I don’t think it’s that drastic-I just think they can see the hatches now. Hatches or blaster ports? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-recent-ultima-thule-images/828155/14 "2019-01-23T20:42:34Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > Hatches or blaster ports? Might be a shuttle bay door. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-recent-ultima-thule-images/828155/15 "2019-01-23T21:22:48Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Might be a shuttle bay door. “Open the pod-bay door, Hal.” ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-recent-ultima-thule-images/828155/16 "2019-01-23T21:28:42Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > “Open the pod-bay door, Hal.” “I’m sorry, Dave, I can’t do that.” “And, \>snicker\< you forgot your helmet.” ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-recent-ultima-thule-images/828155/17 "2019-01-24T02:30:49Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Might be a shuttle bay door. or Photon Torpedo tubes :eek: ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-recent-ultima-thule-images/828155/18 "2019-01-24T02:42:34Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I don’t think it’s that drastic-I just think they can see the hatches now. “That’s no moon.” :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-recent-ultima-thule-images/828155/19 "2019-01-24T14:47:04Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > And high-rez images have lots and lots of bits. Dozens at least! > [@dtilque](#): > > It will take hours to download a single image. Ah, reminds me of the good ol’ days of dial up. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2019, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-recent-ultima-thule-images/828155/20 "2019-01-25T02:14:02Z")
It’s alive! Alive! (the probe, that is…) > **[NASA's New Horizons space probe beams back sharpest image yet of Ultima Thule](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nasa-new-horizons-space-probe-sharpest-image-of-ultima-thule/)** > > NASA's New Horizons probe has sent back more photos from the far side of the solar system, a billion miles past Pluto [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-recent-ultima-thule-images/828155.md?page=2)