lI1|1! Posted January 11, 2006 Posted January 11, 2006 (edited) computer users wanted to scan photographs for star dust text for the lazy: Astronomers want recruits to hunt for comet dust Last Updated Tue, 10 Jan 2006 18:23:39 EST CBC News If you have an eye for the minuscule and time to spare, astronomers want your help searching for grains of dust collected from the tail of a comet. During seven years in space, the bookcase-sized Stardust probe gathered samples of gas and dust from the shimmering tail of the comet Wild 2. The craft is scheduled to land in Utah on Jan. 15, the first time comet dust has been brought to Earth for analysis. On Tuesday, researchers said they need the public's help to find a needle in a haystack: an estimated 45 grains of dust in an expected 1.5 million microscopic images of the spacecraft's collector plate. Eagle-eyed volunteers worldwide will use a virtual microscope program to search the pictures for carrot-shaped tracks left by the dust grains. To be eligible to participate, you need to take a Web-based training course and pass a test of your searching ability. Each image will be examined at least four times, adding up to an assignment that would take at least 30,000 hours for one person to complete. Scientists hope the grains will contain pristine examples of the solar system's building blocks dating back nearly five billion years. *now he can actually do something productive* Edited January 11, 2006 by lI1|1! Quote
whidbey Posted January 12, 2006 Posted January 12, 2006 Ain't gonna happen... keep the spray going Dru. Quote
foraker Posted January 12, 2006 Posted January 12, 2006 Don't be fooled. Most of his posts are snaffle pagetops. I ask you, is that any foundation for a civilized society? Quote
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