Would it be possible to send a probe vertically above the solar system's plane to observe the entire solar system and capture a mosaic photo? How far would it need to go to get a complete photo of everything?
Ken Warner, San Bernardino, California
Published: Monday, July 23, 2012
Yes, this is possible. To get the entire solar system in one field of view would mean the craft would have to be 90ÒÀ to the ecliptic plane with a 75ÒÀ field of view; this would take 31 years after its Saturn encounter (provided it follows a modified Voyager 1 trajectory). At the point when the craft is 90ÒÀ to the plane, it would be 38.4 AU above it.
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