About this episode
Ray Villard and Don Savage from NASA respond to concerns about Hubble Space Telescope observations of Comet Hale-Bopp. The NASA representatives address accusations that the space agency had failed to use Hubble to observe the comet or was hiding images from public view. Villard, from the Space Telescope Science Institute, explains the rigorous peer-review process for Hubble time allocation, noting that demand exceeds availability by four or five to one among astronomers worldwide. The officials clarify that Hubble has observed Hale-Bopp multiple times since 1995, with images widely distributed on the Internet and through news media. They explain that Hubble's primary contribution was accurately measuring the comet nucleus diameter at approximately 25 miles, though the actual nucleus remains unresolved even by Hubble due to distance limitations. The conversation addresses technical constraints, including solar avoidance zones that limit when and how celestial objects can be observed. Savage and Villard defend NASA's transparency while acknowledging public skepticism about space agency communications. The discussion touches on comet composition theories, including Tom Van Flandern's exploded planet hypothesis, and the challenge of resolving small-scale features even with advanced space-based telescopes. Their appearance represents NASA's effort to directly address public concerns about institutional secrecy.