Why this observatory fires lasers at satellites

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  • Опубліковано 5 вер 2021
  • NERC's Space Geodesy Facility, hidden away in the English countryside, fires lasers at satellites. Because it turns out that knowing a satellite's position exactly is really, really difficult. More about the Facility: sgf.rgo.ac.uk/
    Thanks to Jay Dickieson for the suggestion!
    🟥 MORE FROM TOM: www.tomscott.com/
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 1,8 тис.

  • @TomScottGo
    @TomScottGo  2 роки тому +2597

    I've got a second channel now! It's called "Tom Scott plus", because every video is me plus someone else. And to start with, I tried aerobatics with Jay Foreman and neither of us could handle it: ua-cam.com/video/N9OKVCt8dOM/v-deo.html

    • @TANNAPON
      @TANNAPON 2 роки тому +19

      27 Hours ago? -​ Tom

    • @fritz404
      @fritz404 2 роки тому +4

      Wow

    • @fire777.
      @fire777. 2 роки тому +2

      Hi

    • @spicybaguette7706
      @spicybaguette7706 2 роки тому +9

      @@TANNAPON it was unlisted or something

    • @atelektase
      @atelektase 2 роки тому +2

      @@thefbi6460 no. unlisted/private video

  • @reflectedpower609
    @reflectedpower609 2 роки тому +4208

    "This station works around the clock, whenever the sky is clear"
    Bold move to set it up in the southern UK.

    • @SyntheticFuture
      @SyntheticFuture 2 роки тому +536

      Could be a nice "work avoidance strategy" 😂 "how's the satellite thing going?" "oh you know it's cloudy... So we watched the game and drank some tea... Busy day..."

    • @Graham_Langley
      @Graham_Langley 2 роки тому +49

      August must have been quiet.

    • @Einyen
      @Einyen 2 роки тому +97

      So instead of 24/7 it is more like 3/3

    • @haroldinho9930
      @haroldinho9930 2 роки тому +28

      Southern UK is good lmao. Try living in Ireland.

    • @uiriamu4242
      @uiriamu4242 2 роки тому +14

      Not wven kidding that is my best friends dad the one in the interview

  • @ShortHax
    @ShortHax 2 роки тому +6586

    I can’t even begin to imagine the Death Star’s electricity bill

    • @quokka_yt
      @quokka_yt 2 роки тому +27

      Yo I see u everywhere

    • @AboveEmAllProduction
      @AboveEmAllProduction 2 роки тому +14

      @@quokka_yt nah it's a different guy

    • @randaranatunga7259
      @randaranatunga7259 2 роки тому +188

      The death start won’t kill you , you’ll see the bill and get a heart attack and die

    • @infernogear571
      @infernogear571 2 роки тому +2

      @@randaranatunga7259 yes

    • @Skyleed
      @Skyleed 2 роки тому +3

      That would take lots of money

  • @Juli414
    @Juli414 2 роки тому +1777

    I find it incredibly humorous that this high tech facility's next door neighbor is a medieval festival site.

    • @Dmanthepowerful
      @Dmanthepowerful 2 роки тому +19

      that's truly something special

    • @KerbalRocketry
      @KerbalRocketry 2 роки тому +124

      not just that, it's actually within the grounds of the castle

    • @fastertrackcreative
      @fastertrackcreative 2 роки тому +6

      What are you referring to?

    • @tylerallen8900
      @tylerallen8900 2 роки тому +20

      it's like the sims irl

    • @imageez
      @imageez 2 роки тому +12

      I'd say it enhances the experience

  • @UpLateGeek
    @UpLateGeek 2 роки тому +4809

    Very cool, I had no idea these existed or that it was even necessary to zap satellites with lasers! Which is a bit embarrassing considering as part of my job I'm responsible for the terrestrial connectivity to satellite ground stations. I guess there's always something new to learn, even if you're working with something regularly!

    • @rain596
      @rain596 2 роки тому +36

      how do you work on the terrestrial connection then? what other methods are there to do this? :)

    • @RazorwingFairy
      @RazorwingFairy 2 роки тому +34

      The beauty of watching Tom Scott videos haha

    • @FinnaRealtawk2323
      @FinnaRealtawk2323 2 роки тому +4

      You work with balloons and you believe you work with satellites. That’s the best part of all of this. You people swear you work with satellites but never seen one other than in CGI, on tv. That’s what’s funny here. You work with balloons. Not satellites.

    • @ahall9839
      @ahall9839 2 роки тому +144

      @@FinnaRealtawk2323 nuh uh

    • @FinnaRealtawk2323
      @FinnaRealtawk2323 2 роки тому +5

      @UCnM0WUVw2SwghWD91kNVECw Get help. It’s gonna be a long 4 years for you if you feel this is what you need to do to defend that senile clown. Go away. Go play on CNN and MSNBC’s channel.

  • @MrHubert1710
    @MrHubert1710 2 роки тому +647

    0:05 (Not-so) fun fact:
    GPS doesn't use triangualtion to determine your position, it uses trilateration. Triangualtion relies on angles to get information. GPS uses time to calculate distance from satelites, distances are used to make spheres and your position is where spheres touch, so it uses trilateration instead of triangualtion.
    In fact to determine your position in 3D space you have to use 4 satelites with 4 distances so it becomes multilateration.
    Yes, im fun at parties

    • @TheBendixSA
      @TheBendixSA 2 роки тому +13

      obviously....smh. XD

    • @TruthNerds
      @TruthNerds 2 роки тому +57

      👍 Typically, you want to have at least 4 signals for optimum accuracy.
      If you have 1 signal, you could be (at least in theory) anywhere on a sphere around the satellite.
      For 2 signals, you could be anywhere on the intersection of the 2 spheres, which is generally a circle.
      For 3 signals, you could be anywhere on the intersection of that circle with another sphere, which is generally *2* points.
      Now, often, one of the points will be implausible (e.g. inside the Earth or far out in space) and can be practically ruled out. However, this is not always the case. Also, the run time of one signal may be higher than expected according to line of sight e.g. because of being reflected off of a building. So having more than 3 signals increases resilience and accuracy.

    • @L2M2K2
      @L2M2K2 2 роки тому +34

      @@TruthNerds, no, you really need minimum of four signals (unless you have a GPS grade atomic clock with you, with good time synchronization, and are not using the usual method). The fourth satellite will be used to deduce the time at which the four signals could have met in a “point” somewhere on Earth*. This also gives your device a very good time information accurate to a a few tens of nanoseconds, well, omitting the 18 s offset between the GPS and the UTC times, as the former does not include the leap seconds. *(Or, rather than a point, it deduced the time at which the four signals are most tightly bundled around a point, which is why even more signals means better accuracy.)

    • @chunguskhan5327
      @chunguskhan5327 2 роки тому +10

      So the point where you are standing would look kind of like a ☣️ sign but with four circles?

    • @tfr
      @tfr 2 роки тому +2

      Wow somebody is keen on keeping up with their Duolingo notifications

  • @Opus313
    @Opus313 2 роки тому +500

    Firing lasers at satellites seems like a James Bond villain kind of thing to do...

    • @lavnlvas
      @lavnlvas 2 роки тому +2

      It's definitely a Duncan Jax villain kind of thing to do.

    • @micro11.
      @micro11. 2 роки тому +9

      Nah it definitely a mission impossible type

    • @RSmerlinRS
      @RSmerlinRS 2 роки тому +4

      "it's okay, it's for science"

    • @jackdowse1246
      @jackdowse1246 2 роки тому +1

      I was thinking Austin powers

    • @Xeroph-5
      @Xeroph-5 2 роки тому +2

      Isn't that moonraker?

  • @Charlie-js8rj
    @Charlie-js8rj 2 роки тому +553

    I'm not saying there's a supervillian directing this, but has anyone checked underneath the giant laser domes for evil lairs?

    • @TuberTugger
      @TuberTugger 2 роки тому +60

      The need more of these in the southern hemisphere. To save money, we're going to mount the lasers on aquatic life so they can roam around getting us readings.
      Sharks with freakin' laser beams on their heads.

    • @sgnosymfoemos
      @sgnosymfoemos 2 роки тому +3

      Might want to set out some flypaper to keep evil lairs away

    • @peterisaksson9915
      @peterisaksson9915 2 роки тому +7

      Don´t tell @Kyle Hill this!

    • @MonkeyJedi99
      @MonkeyJedi99 2 роки тому +1

      @@peterisaksson9915 This is the thought I was looking for.

    • @Diamondketo
      @Diamondketo 2 роки тому +1

      Fun fact: The tomb of James Lick is under the dome house of the Lick telescope. You can visit it as a tourist attraction

  • @fwizzybee42
    @fwizzybee42 2 роки тому +347

    “This thing needs a clear sky to work”
    “I know! Let’s put it in the UK“

    • @girlsdrinkfeck
      @girlsdrinkfeck 2 роки тому +2

      er .... i think every country has one that is required to lock onto GPs sats

  • @Kumimono
    @Kumimono 2 роки тому +700

    Robert of Sherwood shoots arrows of coherent light very accurately at objects very far away.

    • @hanhong2267
      @hanhong2267 2 роки тому +62

      This reply section is very depressing

    • @arifhossain9751
      @arifhossain9751 2 роки тому +41

      The bots are becoming sentient

    • @terrarian7910
      @terrarian7910 2 роки тому +19

      god i have a question. WHY

    • @BluePieNinjaTV
      @BluePieNinjaTV 2 роки тому +13

      Why is the bot using text from little red riding hood

    • @immortal_shrooms6757
      @immortal_shrooms6757 2 роки тому +7

      the bots are quantifying and getting more cryptic.

  • @FrenchyMcFrys
    @FrenchyMcFrys 2 роки тому +542

    Hadn’t really ever thought about it before, but definitely makes sense. Thanks Tom

    • @piccoloatburgerking
      @piccoloatburgerking 2 роки тому +4

      @Biden won, get over it Trump supporters How is that relevant here?

    • @woodfur00
      @woodfur00 2 роки тому +5

      @Biden won, get over it Trump supporters I'm pro-Biden but what do you think you're accomplishing

    • @f-ckmyr0fil655
      @f-ckmyr0fil655 2 роки тому

      ‘Thank you kindly, wolf.’🖤💜🧡💛💚💙💗

    • @f-ckmyr0fil655
      @f-ckmyr0fil655 2 роки тому

      piece of cake and a bottle😒🤤😝😜😛😌😴

    • @f-ckmyr0fil655
      @f-ckmyr0fil655 2 роки тому

      into every corner before you 👏✍️🤟👋🤚🤜🤛

  • @SimonClark
    @SimonClark 2 роки тому +1834

    Bet they could really ruin a Euros semi-final too

    • @abhishekpattanayak1443
      @abhishekpattanayak1443 2 роки тому +15

      Lmao😂

    • @willembuysman5217
      @willembuysman5217 2 роки тому

      😂😂

    • @Fattipotato79
      @Fattipotato79 2 роки тому +22

      I don't get it :(

    • @lucbloom
      @lucbloom 2 роки тому +8

      Me neither. Sports?

    • @fab9207
      @fab9207 2 роки тому +141

      @@Fattipotato79 In the euros someone shined a laser pointer at a goalie during a penalty, but they stopped well before the shot was taken so it didn't change much imo

  • @tammystratford7079
    @tammystratford7079 2 роки тому +205

    Tom is Mr. Bright Eyes when he's excited by the subject matter.

    • @perryleduc1954
      @perryleduc1954 2 роки тому +2

      i just listened to bright eyes before I watched this video

    • @Paulkjoss
      @Paulkjoss 2 роки тому +2

      2:24

  • @Lozoot2
    @Lozoot2 2 роки тому +292

    "how do the satellites know where they are?"
    Well, it's simple - The satellite knows where it is because it knows where it isn't. By subtracting where it is from where it isn't, or where it isn't from where it is (whichever is greater), it obtains a difference, or deviation. The guidance subsystem uses deviations to generate corrective commands to drive the satellite from a position where it is to a position where it isn't, and arriving at a position where it wasn't, it now is. Consequently, the position where it is, is now the position that it wasn't, and it follows that the position that it was, is now the position that it isn't.

    • @zqzj
      @zqzj 2 роки тому +9

      👌🤣

    • @FingerprintGamer
      @FingerprintGamer 2 роки тому +12

      Where there is knowledge there is you my guy

    • @bcikablam3578
      @bcikablam3578 2 роки тому +22

      This reminds me of how things are described in the hitchiker's guide to the galaxy

    • @badvideos5806
      @badvideos5806 2 роки тому +18

      Unfortunately this is a satellite not a missle, there are a few key differences

    • @justarandomtechpriest1578
      @justarandomtechpriest1578 2 роки тому +2

      That's a missile

  • @milohdd
    @milohdd 2 роки тому +121

    I did some work experience here! It was really fun and really interesting (especially being able to aim a giant laser) - one thing that isn't mentioned in this video is they have a gravimeter in the basement that they use to determine precisely how high up the building is to ensure their measurements are as accurate as possible
    (Edit: changed gravitometer to gravimeter)

    • @gordslater
      @gordslater 2 роки тому +2

      gravitometer - sounds serious

    • @EH18
      @EH18 2 роки тому +13

      That particular gravimeter can measure the strength of gravity (g) to 8 decimal places!

    • @gordslater
      @gordslater 2 роки тому +21

      @@EH18 wow - that's unexpectedly good resolution - I think I failed to appreciate the gravity of the situation

    • @EH18
      @EH18 2 роки тому +2

      @@gordslater :)

    • @death_parade
      @death_parade Рік тому

      Since you've worked in this observatory, allow me to ask you if it is it possible to make such facilities remote-controlled. I'd imagine maintenance would be the main issue in that. But otherwise, does operating the laser, gravimeter, etc require on-site presence or is some internet latency bearable thereby allowing for remote operation? Thanks.

  • @YPOC
    @YPOC 2 роки тому +166

    I knew about observatories using lasers to measure distortions in the atmosphere to adjust the shape of the telescope's mirror in real time, but I never thought about using lasers to track position of satellites. Interesting!

  • @hauslerful
    @hauslerful 2 роки тому +36

    Important thing to know, not all lasers fired into the sky by telescopes are used for range estimations. The majority use them for measuring the distortions through the atmosphere to get more precise measurements of stars. That's called adaptive optics.

  • @danm4320
    @danm4320 2 роки тому +239

    I work with satellite engineering and modern satellites do use star tracking. This is usually good enough. Star trackers are extremely accurate and relatively cheap. Even Apollo used star tracking to get them in the lunar orbit (albeit using a more manual process because of limitations with digital photography at the time). I think it is worth emphasizing that the use case for Satellite Laser Range Finding is more for scientific missions with extremely high tolerances when it comes to the satellite's attitude, such as monitoring gravitational fields, rather than global positioning and communications satellites.

    • @FinnaRealtawk2323
      @FinnaRealtawk2323 2 роки тому +6

      You work with satellite engineering you say? Can you tell us how many of them you’ve seen with your own eyes?

    • @cho4d
      @cho4d 2 роки тому +26

      high tolerance... while i know what you mean... it sounds backwards to me. like if the tollerance is larger, greater, bigger, higher, then it can tolerate less precise things....

    • @danm4320
      @danm4320 2 роки тому +34

      @@cho4d generally in engineering, a higher tolerance means a narrower range and better precision. You're right though as it can be confusing.

    • @danm4320
      @danm4320 2 роки тому +40

      @@FinnaRealtawk2323 lost count. Look up at the sky just after sunset and you'll see plenty whizzing around yourself. Quite amazing!!

    • @rishi-m
      @rishi-m 2 роки тому +2

      Don't the people providing the GPS PPP data use these techniques as well? That's what I had read, but maybe things weren't like that ever or might have changed

  • @GremlinReal
    @GremlinReal 2 роки тому +783

    This looks and sounds exactly what something doofenshmirtz would do

    • @anthonydavis5288
      @anthonydavis5288 2 роки тому +66

      I'll be waiting for an "Lazer-inator" on the news.

    • @frenchfry7640
      @frenchfry7640 2 роки тому +49

      Behold, this is my newest invention. Meet the "measure how far the satelite is away-inator"

    • @justanotherhotguy
      @justanotherhotguy 2 роки тому +6

      Doofenschmirtz has no red shirt, sadly

    • @JaMaMaa1
      @JaMaMaa1 2 роки тому +15

      Behold, my laser-inator, it points this giant laser pointer at all of the flights leaving and entering the tri-state area!

    • @carcomp101
      @carcomp101 2 роки тому +18

      "Doofinshmirtz evil observatory"

  • @RedmarKerkhof
    @RedmarKerkhof 2 роки тому +173

    Let me get this straight. They built a highly sensitive machine dependent on clear skies... in England?

  • @francis9428
    @francis9428 2 роки тому +197

    Observatory: fires lasers at satellite
    Someone's Cat: *"Hold my milk"*

    • @chairger
      @chairger 2 роки тому +5

      6 local cats spotted chasing satellite, more news at 9

    • @vg6761
      @vg6761 2 роки тому

      Terrorist: "pass me my milk"

  • @JomirBrands
    @JomirBrands 2 роки тому +12

    I feel Sci-Fi in this video and I love it

  • @CoffeeSuccubus
    @CoffeeSuccubus 2 роки тому +147

    Tom exposes project Death Star, and is now wanted by the Imperial Government

    • @GreenFoxLuama
      @GreenFoxLuama 2 роки тому +3

      The British Empire

    • @f-ckmyr0fil655
      @f-ckmyr0fil655 2 роки тому

      I must act craftily, so as to catch both.🌽🥕🥔🍆🥑🥝🥥

    • @f-ckmyr0fil655
      @f-ckmyr0fil655 2 роки тому

      ‘Thank you kindly, wolf.’🖤💜🧡💛💚💙💗

  • @verylongname8161
    @verylongname8161 2 роки тому +42

    Tom scott videos have been hella fantastic lately, I loved the Orkney Islands video. The flight video with Sam was a welcome surprise. This is just something straight outta my 12 year old brain's crazy imagination

  • @wanpokke
    @wanpokke 2 роки тому +1

    Explaining the topic while the object of discussion being the dome opens up in the background is such top-notch framing and direction

  • @randaranatunga7259
    @randaranatunga7259 2 роки тому +86

    Imagine taking a walk on the countryside and then suddenly seeing a giant laser pointing towards oblivion

    • @dubious6718
      @dubious6718 2 роки тому +2

      You cant see it with your eyes.

    • @sammygg21
      @sammygg21 2 роки тому +7

      @@dubious6718 1000% you can see it with your eyes. Even I own a $10 green laser that can be seen by the eye.

    • @sanctified5523
      @sanctified5523 2 роки тому +2

      @Biden won, get over it Trump supporters okay bot

    • @codinghub3759
      @codinghub3759 2 роки тому

      @Biden won, get over it Trump supporters how is this even remotely related to the video?

    • @irrelevanttroll3312
      @irrelevanttroll3312 2 роки тому

      @Biden won, get over it Trump supporters eh

  • @aril.3674
    @aril.3674 2 роки тому +211

    And what do you do for a living?
    This Guy: " I shoot satellites with photon-gun."

    • @DyslexicMitochondria
      @DyslexicMitochondria 2 роки тому +4

      Sounds like a fun job

    • @sterlingarcher8041
      @sterlingarcher8041 2 роки тому

      @@DyslexicMitochondria hey bro I watch your videos. Love your channel

    • @darrennew8211
      @darrennew8211 2 роки тому

      22 caliber photon bullets.

    • @samiuseliina
      @samiuseliina 2 роки тому +1

      Far easier to explain then saying you work in geodesy

    • @Adiscretefirm
      @Adiscretefirm 2 роки тому

      Get that guy to a middle school Career Day if you want to promote STEM classes.

  • @lunasophia9002
    @lunasophia9002 2 роки тому +3

    Hey, that's KDE at 1:28! It's always a delight to see folks using something that isn't Windows.

  • @philingupspace
    @philingupspace 2 роки тому

    Your ability to keep videos precise, while still answering any questions that popped into my head while learning something new is unmatched!

  • @ravusursi893
    @ravusursi893 2 роки тому +29

    Cripes Tom, you could have got an hour video out of this subject! Fascinating!

  • @akshaybalakrishnan150
    @akshaybalakrishnan150 2 роки тому +136

    Goes to show how much work goes into collecting the data needed to make theories and derive conclusions about the world around us!

    • @FinnaRealtawk2323
      @FinnaRealtawk2323 2 роки тому +3

      And how much have we gained from all this money wasted on space BS? We have a bunch of balloons with micro chips on them floating around the edge of earths atmosphere. That’s it. No "satellites". No moon landing. No moon reflectors to look at. Just a bunch of wasted money and even more morons like yourself that believe everything NASA tells them is truth.

    • @lonestarr1490
      @lonestarr1490 2 роки тому

      Or how much work goes into collecting the data needed to keep everything running as it is.

    • @YouTubeDoesntSupportMyUsername
      @YouTubeDoesntSupportMyUsername 2 роки тому +20

      @@FinnaRealtawk2323 ok

    • @Marquis-Sade
      @Marquis-Sade 2 роки тому +14

      And than there are facebook groups that say "No thats all wrong, I know better because my chiropractor told me this

    • @akshaybalakrishnan150
      @akshaybalakrishnan150 2 роки тому +20

      @@FinnaRealtawk2323 quite funny how our global communication networks run on microchips on balloons innit

  • @letslike15
    @letslike15 2 роки тому +8

    A friend of mine worked as satellite tracker in Austria. It's a really crazy job if you see the equipment and calculations that go into these observations. Also the light ray shooting into the sky makes some really great background images.

  • @mace8873
    @mace8873 2 роки тому +27

    What most people don't realize, is that observatories are actually powered by organic matter. They _may_ look like rather clumsy and slow structures, but those massive steel jaws can snap shut in a fraction of a second, and that's how they snatch low-flying waterfowl straight out of the sky. Like giant above-ground ant lions.

  • @euansmith3699
    @euansmith3699 2 роки тому +289

    I was disappointed that the answer to the title wasn't "sh1ts and giggles". However, the actual answer is very cool

    • @PianoKwanMan
      @PianoKwanMan 2 роки тому +17

      Knowing researchers, it's also for shits and giggles. It still reminds me of sitting in a lab looking at superconductors and freezing jelly babies and other sweets in liquid nitrogen, then eating them.

    • @euansmith3699
      @euansmith3699 2 роки тому +6

      @@PianoKwanMan Did you have any luck at getting Jelly Babies to superconduct?

    • @PianoKwanMan
      @PianoKwanMan 2 роки тому +5

      @@euansmith3699 They don't. But, I learnt that in another life, I could have been an executioner

    • @theantimatter
      @theantimatter 2 роки тому

      The title has no answer, as it is _not_ a question. Just pedantic things. Pedantix, if you will.

  • @randomsc00b53
    @randomsc00b53 2 роки тому +86

    A drone shot around that laser during the night would be absolutely stunning

    • @buddyclem7328
      @buddyclem7328 2 роки тому +7

      Oops! Good thing we brought an extra drone.

    • @sepil2227
      @sepil2227 2 роки тому +1

      ⏱🗿

    • @synth1002
      @synth1002 2 роки тому +2

      or a drone shot by that laser XD

    • @mgancarzjr
      @mgancarzjr 2 роки тому +1

      You put a laser on a drone?
      No, we built a laser and thought, "This thing is so awesome it needs to fly!" We built a drone around a laser.

    • @Veitclub
      @Veitclub 2 роки тому

      Filming this with a fast rolling shutter would make it even better

  • @italiansoutherner
    @italiansoutherner 2 роки тому +18

    The developer of this building was like, "I have one simple request: an observatory with frickin' laser beams attatched to it."

  • @hjalfi
    @hjalfi 2 роки тому +9

    The Apollo program left some laser reflectors on the moon, so you can use a similar system to very accurately measure the distance to the moon. It's been used to confirm the moon's slow spiral away from the earth.

  • @DominikKleinMusicde
    @DominikKleinMusicde 2 роки тому +72

    Well, actually actually, you cannot measure your precise angle in relation to a satellite (which would be required for triANGULATION). Instead, we calculate the position based on distance measurements, so finding your position using satellites is called triLATERATION :)

    • @joostdriesens3984
      @joostdriesens3984 2 роки тому +28

      You must be fun at parties... At least at my parties!! I love this kind of stuff! 😄

    • @dontreadthispleaseibegyou
      @dontreadthispleaseibegyou 2 роки тому

      i didn't understand a word but ok

    • @pranavps851
      @pranavps851 2 роки тому +6

      A common misconception

    • @John...44...
      @John...44... 2 роки тому +3

      I thought triangulation was using distance to calculate your position? i.e your distance from 3 known points would give you your position. No angles

    • @blindleader42
      @blindleader42 2 роки тому +1

      Sigh. So you think triangulation means "the measuring of angles". And apparently you also think that position can be determined without knowing the angles involved. This misconception has long since crept into professional literature in the industry where people should know better.
      Triangulation means, and has always meant *solving triangles*. You need the complete triangle to know the position of anything. Whether you measure the angles directly, or calculate them from the three sides makes no difference. You need the angles the same as you need the distances.

  • @loganlopez1617
    @loganlopez1617 2 роки тому +58

    Love that they're using Linux. And doing libSDL2 programming myself I'd love to see the source code for these programs. All of it is just so cool

    • @LukeeGD
      @LukeeGD 2 роки тому +5

      They're using KDE Plasma as well, very nice

    • @olbluelips
      @olbluelips 2 роки тому

      @@LukeeGD wooo love plasma

    • @superyu1337
      @superyu1337 2 роки тому

      @@olbluelips Plasma is cool but bloated af.
      I avoid plasma on my laptop install.

    • @satsuc
      @satsuc 2 роки тому

      Btw I use GNOME

    • @milohdd
      @milohdd 2 роки тому +1

      If I remember right it's a custom version they developed to suit their uses

  • @gamaltk
    @gamaltk 2 роки тому +1

    The amount of things relying on this is astonishing. Thank you for sharing Tom!

  • @gustafengstrom8139
    @gustafengstrom8139 2 роки тому +3

    The absolute quality you keep pumping out year after year is insane!

  • @idealhuman
    @idealhuman 2 роки тому +11

    This title was seriously the most random thing ever!

  • @razerbladegaming8983
    @razerbladegaming8983 2 роки тому +6

    "Is that a building down there? What do you mean you can't identify it?"
    Sunbeam quote if you didn't know

  • @andrewdavies3091
    @andrewdavies3091 2 роки тому +30

    I've seen this driving southbound outside North London in the dark, a bunch of times! Always wondered what it was. Thanks for the info!

    • @anjrew
      @anjrew 2 роки тому +2

      Nope, this station is just North of Bexhill on the South coast of England.

    • @jakedeane5304
      @jakedeane5304 2 роки тому +1

      Unlikely, it’s about 100km from north london

    • @DEFarnes
      @DEFarnes 13 днів тому

      You are thinking of the Meridian Laser

  • @andytaylor1806
    @andytaylor1806 2 роки тому +8

    Oh yes mate! I used to work as a chef in the castle that this thing is in the grounds of. It was a really weird thing walking past that laser after a shift, on a clear day you can see it from the neighbouring village a mile or two away.

  • @AthAthanasius
    @AthAthanasius 2 роки тому +10

    00:00 - Given GPS uses distances (worked out from time delays) that's triLATERATION, not triangulation (which requires knowing the position of at least two points and the angles from them to the unknown).

    • @Allan_son
      @Allan_son 2 роки тому

      No. Triangulation involves triangles. Not necessarily any angles. That said you are correct that GPS is not triangulation, but it is also not trilateration.

  • @Eugene__
    @Eugene__ 2 роки тому +49

    It is really cool that Tom makes us think about something we have never thought about... Incredible...

    • @rita25y.o-checkmyvideo26
      @rita25y.o-checkmyvideo26 2 роки тому

      The huntsman was just passing🤽‍♂️🤼‍♀️🤼‍♂️🤸‍♀️🤸‍♂️🏍🏎

    • @bob69927
      @bob69927 2 роки тому

      True. I’d always thought they’d calculate their own positions.

  • @someasiankid6214
    @someasiankid6214 2 роки тому +1

    Tom always and *will* always blow our minds

  • @knicklichtjedi
    @knicklichtjedi 2 роки тому

    What I especially like about videos like these is reading the stories of other people working in these fields. So interesting!

  • @agwilt
    @agwilt 2 роки тому +15

    I just took a break from reading about celestial navigation to have a look at my UA-cam subscription feed, and this was suddenly here. Good timing!

  • @TFalke55
    @TFalke55 2 роки тому +31

    Always love to see when there is some attention given to geodesy and land surveying 😃

  • @ultravidz
    @ultravidz 2 роки тому +78

    Was hoping the answer would be “just to fk around with em”

  • @daviddredge1178
    @daviddredge1178 2 роки тому

    You continue to inform and entertain. Thank you.

  • @heinrichdertote149
    @heinrichdertote149 2 роки тому +26

    I just love how the more you get into science, gear just starts looking older and has more Linux running on it.

    • @milohdd
      @milohdd 2 роки тому

      Linux and panels covered in buttons that nobody ever presses

    • @stargazer7644
      @stargazer7644 2 роки тому +3

      Anything serious or scientific that's done on computers is done on Linux/Unix. That's how it's always been.

    • @heinrichdertote149
      @heinrichdertote149 2 роки тому

      @@stargazer7644 I know and I love seeing people using it somewhere else.

    • @eljanrimsa5843
      @eljanrimsa5843 2 роки тому +2

      They can work out orbits and gravity and relativity to get accurate measurements. But nobody can work out the intricacies of Windows' multi-generational family of time formats.

  • @thegray5730
    @thegray5730 2 роки тому +25

    There is a similar facility in Port Stanley, in the Falkland Islands. Also a British territory.

    • @DanielGalimidi
      @DanielGalimidi 2 роки тому +2

      ¡¡Las Malvinas son argentinas!! ¡¡¡El que no salta es un inglés!!!

    • @Muralidharan001
      @Muralidharan001 2 роки тому +2

      Europeans should go back to Europe.

    • @Dave_Sisson
      @Dave_Sisson 2 роки тому +7

      Well the Falklands are self governing with their own elected government, they are doing very well economically and the British have very little involvement with the Falklands (except for defence for obvious reasons). They refer to themselves as a nation, so I wouldn't describe them as being British these days, they are their own people.

    • @krashd
      @krashd 2 роки тому

      @@Dave_Sisson If they are a nation then they can defend themselves from Argentina I assume?

    • @patriarch7237
      @patriarch7237 2 роки тому +1

      @@krashd That would make them a nation in the sense that Kuwait is a nation then.

  • @1900intz
    @1900intz 2 роки тому

    Fascinating. Thank you Tom. Learn something new with every post of yours. 👍🏻

  • @b9y
    @b9y 2 роки тому

    Another Tom Scott video about something we never needed to know, but we're bloody glad we do.

  • @ObviouslyBenHughes
    @ObviouslyBenHughes 2 роки тому +11

    FREAKIN LASER BEAMS

  • @notjoss
    @notjoss 2 роки тому +60

    I wonder whether an ocean based station might be possible, perhaps similar to an oil rig, which I guess would help with the uneven distribution across the southern hemisphere.

    • @thenerdyouknowabout
      @thenerdyouknowabout 2 роки тому +31

      An ocean station would move at the whim of the water on which it sits. Not only would maintaining an accurate pointing on the satellites be a nightmare/impossible, the method of ranging used here relies on knowing the location of the station to a high precision. Yes it moves based on the Earths crustal movement, but thats many orders of magnitude less than the motion youd experiance at sea.
      TL;DR: Too much motion at sea, stations only work on land.

    • @dashielcockrill998
      @dashielcockrill998 2 роки тому +3

      But stuff like oil rigs don’t float they are perfectly stationary.

    • @explosivo666
      @explosivo666 2 роки тому +2

      There are plenty of smaller islands in the middle of the Pacific, like the Pitcairn Islands, there is no need for an oil rig.

    • @anj000
      @anj000 2 роки тому

      @@thenerdyouknowabout I think there are oil rigs fixed to the seabed. They move too?

    • @nirodper
      @nirodper 2 роки тому +4

      @@explosivo666 there are 4 CONTINENTS in the southern hemisphere, plenty of land you "just" need the money

  • @jimloy2080
    @jimloy2080 2 роки тому

    For a short, low-key video, that was astonishing. Good work.

  • @Sosukz
    @Sosukz 2 роки тому

    These short videos are great Tom!

  • @dwirandypradhika6752
    @dwirandypradhika6752 2 роки тому +14

    Glad to see they use linux at 1:28
    I would be extremely worried if the satellites positioning software are running on something like windows.

    • @shambhav9534
      @shambhav9534 2 роки тому +1

      You never know when it will pause and auto update when it's calculating vital data to redirect a satellite so that it doesn't hit the Microsoft headquarters.

  • @robobossEPIC537
    @robobossEPIC537 2 роки тому +27

    It’s a magical *drone* flying through the sky
    “Shoot it down”

  • @TheSkogemann
    @TheSkogemann 2 роки тому

    Awesome! I cant help thinking this could be a full feature episode. Really interesting!

  • @paulflood6503
    @paulflood6503 2 роки тому +1

    Tom Scott is single handedly educating UA-cam

  • @Mp57navy
    @Mp57navy 2 роки тому +19

    "...the ground you stand on is steady..."
    *laughs in 20-30 mm drift to the North - west each year in Reykjavik, and earthquakes practically every day*

    • @AZOffRoadster
      @AZOffRoadster 2 роки тому +2

      Australia drifts north about an inch per year. I was surprised it was that much.

    • @Allan_son
      @Allan_son 2 роки тому +1

      No no. You have it wrong. Reykjavik is fine. The Earth is drifting south eastward. :-)

  • @YourPhysicsSimulator
    @YourPhysicsSimulator 2 роки тому +50

    "Execute order 66"
    - The observatory, probably

  • @Freak0104
    @Freak0104 2 роки тому

    I always have the urge to tell everyone about what I learned in most Tom Scott videos, because it’s always something new and super interesting!

  • @jimmyb101
    @jimmyb101 2 роки тому +1

    In the late 90's I was walking near the Antarctic Division in Tasmania and saw a laser going up to the sky so far it seem to never end. Great clip Tom, Cool observing.

  • @andrewshoe6832
    @andrewshoe6832 2 роки тому +3

    Your channel truly is one of the last of it's kind. Concise, well researched, and interesting.

  • @OlliWilkman
    @OlliWilkman 2 роки тому +3

    I used to work with a satellite laser ranging system, and I always thought it would be a good video suggestion for Tom, but it wasn't operational yet back then.

    • @weteaman1498
      @weteaman1498 2 роки тому

      Can you explain to me shortly i don't get the video mate

  • @jacobr8063
    @jacobr8063 2 роки тому

    How do you always find such interesting stuff to make videos about, Tom? You are a terribly underrated UA-camr.

  • @kaischreurs2488
    @kaischreurs2488 2 роки тому +1

    I can't believe I've never even thought to ask the question "how do the satelites know where they are?"
    great video.

  • @comments_very_nice
    @comments_very_nice 2 роки тому +4

    The satellite knows where it is and where it isn't. By knowing where it isn't, it figures out where it is.

  • @spicybaguette7706
    @spicybaguette7706 2 роки тому +33

    The sattelite knows where it is, because it knows where it isn't

    • @sam08g16
      @sam08g16 2 роки тому

      Same can be said about my father

    • @basedamogus
      @basedamogus 2 роки тому +2

      By subtracting where it is from where it isn't, or where it isn't from where it is, whichever is greater, it obtains a difference, or deviation.

    • @elias_xp95
      @elias_xp95 2 роки тому

      But what if it isn’t there?

    • @basedamogus
      @basedamogus 2 роки тому +1

      @@elias_xp95 The guidance subsystem uses deviations to generate corrective commands to drive the missile from a position where it is to a position where it isn't and, arriving at a position where it wasn't, it now is. Consequently, the position where it is, is now the position that it wasn't, and it follows that the position that it was is now the position that it isn't. In the event that the position that it is in is not the position that it wasn't, the system has acquired a variation; the variation being the difference between where the missile is and where it isn't.

    • @elias_xp95
      @elias_xp95 2 роки тому +1

      @@basedamogus So it is, isn’t it?

  • @Ryulin18
    @Ryulin18 2 роки тому

    That's so cool. Thanks again, Tom and team!

  • @macblastoff7700
    @macblastoff7700 2 роки тому

    It was cool that Tom was able to find a knowledgeable bloke who speaks at Tom speed and continuity levels. Each clip, one take!

  • @anthonytawil5038
    @anthonytawil5038 2 роки тому +6

    My friend got married in the castle nearby and I remember seeing the lasers shoot out but didn't realise what it was doing. As always Tom to the rescue to fill in the gaps of my knowledge.

  • @llll-lk2mm
    @llll-lk2mm 2 роки тому +6

    I always wondered how they managed to take all that into account. Great vid Mr. Scott!

  • @porkbrain4482
    @porkbrain4482 2 роки тому

    Great work with the button & the dome in the background.

  • @johnsherby9130
    @johnsherby9130 2 роки тому

    Great video as usual Tom!

  • @magicalmicromage2603
    @magicalmicromage2603 2 роки тому +6

    So what do you do for a living?
    "I shoot lasers at satellites to determine their position around the Earth. How bout you?"

  • @HazardousMoose
    @HazardousMoose 2 роки тому +27

    I figured you would just use a GPS system in reverse: Have radio transmitters on earth sending out their position plus the exact local time and then have the satellite work out its position from multiple such signals. But I'm guessing the laser system is more precise?

    • @gordonrichardson2972
      @gordonrichardson2972 2 роки тому +16

      The laser system allows all the power, hardware, and calculations to be done on the ground.

    • @Geeksmithing
      @Geeksmithing 2 роки тому

      @@gordonrichardson2972 How exactly would that differ from a radio transmitter on the earth?

    • @johngaltline9933
      @johngaltline9933 2 роки тому +14

      @@Geeksmithing with the transmitters on earth, the satellite would have to do the math as it gets the signals, as well as compute for the atmosphere distortions. it's a lot easier to do all that on the ground then send the stupid, beeping, satellite a note telling it exactly where it is.

    • @midnightgear2616
      @midnightgear2616 2 роки тому +3

      Tom actually addresses this in the video, if you use that, it'll steadily drift away from reality.

    • @HazardousMoose
      @HazardousMoose 2 роки тому +4

      @@gordonrichardson2972 That makes sense, thank you for the information:)

  • @observer_IV
    @observer_IV 2 роки тому

    it is interesting to see that some of our normal things have actually so many complicated things behind the scenes. thanks for sharing!

  • @jeremymillington1323
    @jeremymillington1323 2 роки тому

    Love to hear so much more about this!

  • @Czenda24
    @Czenda24 2 роки тому +10

    I've never understood why a flash light cone or a laser just seems to "end" like that when pointed at the sky. (Don't point lasers at the sky btw.)

    • @ANDSENS
      @ANDSENS 2 роки тому

      > (Don't point lasers at the sky btw.)
      I... think you need to expand on that.

    • @clayel1
      @clayel1 2 роки тому

      no clue

    • @mrh8509
      @mrh8509 2 роки тому +1

      @@ANDSENS It's not good to point lasers at airplanes because it can distract or otherwise disrupt the pilots. This has happened before

    • @macattackmicmac
      @macattackmicmac 2 роки тому +7

      The light you see from a laser beam is the light that is scattered backwards from the atmosphere. This scattered light is much weaker than that of the beam, and as such at a certain point your eyes can no longer see the scattered light (from the air) and so it appears like the beam ends. It's the same way how if you shine a torch at a bush, you might not be able to see anything, but when you shine it at the street sign the same distance away you can still see the reflection.

    • @stephanweinberger
      @stephanweinberger 2 роки тому +8

      ​@@macattackmicmac Also, as the atmosphere gets thinner, the backscatter becomes less and less. Plus, most of it is from water vapor, and most of that is below ~12-15km.

  • @moodl3d856
    @moodl3d856 2 роки тому +14

    Tom: Why does this fire lasers at satellites?
    Me: it’s the Death Star obviously

  • @erufailon4723
    @erufailon4723 2 роки тому

    Second channel video and main channel video just two days apart? We've been blessed

  • @moatl6945
    @moatl6945 2 роки тому

    This video is a little journey back in time for me. 20 years ago I did the work for my thesis on the Austrian SLR station in Graz.

  • @anthonydavis5288
    @anthonydavis5288 2 роки тому +5

    Craziest thing: I caught my subscriptions with 4 seconds on this video. What timing 😃.
    Hi Tom 👍. Love the vids

  • @jaredmartinez1597
    @jaredmartinez1597 2 роки тому +22

    "How do the satellites know where they are?"
    Me who watched the missle knows where it is: "Oh god no not again"

    • @Marquis-Sade
      @Marquis-Sade 2 роки тому +1

      I dont understand this joke

    • @nicholaswouters1203
      @nicholaswouters1203 2 роки тому

      Ha ha ha ha ha havent heard that in ages

    • @michaelzhang9806
      @michaelzhang9806 2 роки тому +4

      Marquis well you see, the missile knows where it is because it knows where it isn’t.

    • @ahmadalkhateeb1180
      @ahmadalkhateeb1180 2 роки тому +1

      @@Marquis-Sade cuz you gotta watch the referenced video: " The missle knows where it is"

    • @kusaisama
      @kusaisama 2 роки тому

      @@ahmadalkhateeb1180 link pls?

  • @realloft
    @realloft 2 роки тому +1

    been there and seen it in action, right up close on a private tour. well worth a visit.

  • @dairhat
    @dairhat 2 роки тому

    Yet another awesome video from Tom Scott.

  • @jama211
    @jama211 2 роки тому +4

    As someone who knows how much software and database management are held together with sticky tape and chewing gum... I get scared when I hear how important this data is. I really really hope it can't be broken, or a bunch of satellites would all drift at once!

    • @Coconut-219
      @Coconut-219 2 роки тому

      Ironically, sometimes working with old technology is a benefit because it means the systems are more simple and elegant, and when something goes wrong you know how to fix it.

  • @-maxipoo-
    @-maxipoo- 2 роки тому +3

    “Why I tell you information you never needed nor wanted to know”

  • @etialpti9930
    @etialpti9930 2 роки тому +2

    That we can manufacture instruments with such degree of accuracy blows my mind

    • @Michael75579
      @Michael75579 2 роки тому

      You want really insane accuracy, read up on how big the changes they're measuring at places like LIGO are.

    • @etialpti9930
      @etialpti9930 2 роки тому

      @Carl Klinkenborg fixed physical constants

  • @Sellsor
    @Sellsor 2 роки тому

    These videos always leave me wanting more. They are too short. Please make them longer so we can learn more about the topics. For example deeper dives into things maybe like your friend Wendover

  • @EmilioBaldi
    @EmilioBaldi 2 роки тому +6

    In England, when the sky is clear ... almost an oxymoron (:

    • @matthewbrotman2907
      @matthewbrotman2907 2 роки тому +3

      “They can’t work when it’s cloudy.”
      Well then, maybe putting this facility in England was a bad idea….

  • @gobbel2000
    @gobbel2000 2 роки тому +19

    You know they know what they're doing when they run their software on Linux.

  • @Dima_Sen_
    @Dima_Sen_ 2 роки тому +1

    Tom is so dedicated to making content for us to enjoy 😊