Re: I Spoke to Nancy Online and all I got was this Lousy T-Shirt!

In Article  <[email protected]> Greg Neill wrote:
> 2.  Nancy claims that one reason that Planet X is 
>     difficult to see (appears dim to the eye) is because 
>     it is a "diffuse object".  Given the claimed distance 
>     and diameter of the object (nine times the distance 
>     to Pluto and 4 Earth diameters), the object would 
>     subtend an angular size of only about 0.001 degrees, 
>     a visual point source, yet she claims that it is diffuse.
>     How is this contradiction resolved?

This was addressed a couple weeks ago on the Live ZetaTalk IRC
sessions.  Log below.

(NancyL) SIGHTING PX
(NancyL) 1.  how much would P-X's tail and orbiting debris affect its
apparent size when viewing or imaging.
(NancyL) ZT: Steve has asked whether what he sighted, at Vancouver, was
PX or PX enhanced by its tail and moons.
(NancyL) ZT: As the story of Pluto's discovery tells, Moons can increase
the size of a small object, creating the illusion of a LARGER object.
(NancyL) ZT: Indeed, PX's Moons do not circle it while out in space and
moving, but trail behind.
(NancyL) ZT: They do not simply line up behind in a straight line, but
twirl, moving ABOUT each other in the manner whirlwinds or tornadoes do.
(NancyL) ZT: Thus, viewing PX from the front, as it approaches, one
would see not only PX but a halo of moving Moons.
(NancyL) ZT: In that PX also is surrounded by magnetic iron ore dust,
there is reflection of light from this dust.
(NancyL) ZT: When PX becomes visible from Earth, to those gazing up from
their yards weeks ahead of the shift, it will be seen as a red object
because of this dust.
(NancyL) ZT: Light from PX is thus bounced FROM the dust cloud, creating
the illusion of a larger red object approaching.
(NancyL) ZT: To answer Steve's question directly, he was seeing MORE
than PX in his sights, last April.
(NancyL) End ZT