As an amateur astronomer I can say that what you wrote is absolutely true. It's something very different and wonderful to be able to observe with both your eyes even if the image they are getting is completely the same.
Still, it has nothing to do with why people build large binocular observatories such as this. One reason is that it is probably cheaper to build two 8.4m mirrors that won't distort under their weight then one large mirror of the same surface area. The other is the resolution gain that is possible with the binocular setup through interferometry.
If you compare this NGC2770 image with the one taken by SDSS (Google Earth), one star is clearly missing on the SDSS image (the brightest one). That would certainly explain the choice of the target but there is no mention on the linked article.
Anyway, I expected a larger difference in resolution between the image taken by a 2.5m wide-angle telescope (SDSS) and a 2x8.4m binocular telescope.
It's next to impossible to modify the Active Log track data on a Garmin GPS devices. That's the log file the GPS stores the current track data (usually the last 10,000 points) and it can only be downloaded to the computer. It can not be uploaded back. Any tracks that are uploaded from your computer are clearly marked. You could possibly disassemble the device and reprogram the chip but it would have to be done on the spot in a few seconds after being pulled over which is completely impossible. I can see absolutely no way you can fake the Garmin GPS data if you present the device as evidence on the spot.
Also, from my experience, GPS devices are pretty accurate on the open road (much more accurate that the speed indicator in your car). And if the recorded speed is not correct it is always easily identified from an obvious positional error (if the positional data is more or less correct, so is the speed data).
Slashdot Mirror
Apparently, it really is a supernova: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap080118.html Mystery solved :)
Here is a nice explanation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astronomical_interferometer
As an amateur astronomer I can say that what you wrote is absolutely true. It's something very different and wonderful to be able to observe with both your eyes even if the image they are getting is completely the same. Still, it has nothing to do with why people build large binocular observatories such as this. One reason is that it is probably cheaper to build two 8.4m mirrors that won't distort under their weight then one large mirror of the same surface area. The other is the resolution gain that is possible with the binocular setup through interferometry.
Here is the link to the SDSS image: http://www.astro.washington.edu/west/rc3/NGC2770.jpeg
If you compare this NGC2770 image with the one taken by SDSS (Google Earth), one star is clearly missing on the SDSS image (the brightest one). That would certainly explain the choice of the target but there is no mention on the linked article. Anyway, I expected a larger difference in resolution between the image taken by a 2.5m wide-angle telescope (SDSS) and a 2x8.4m binocular telescope.
Hmm, I have a kdesudo on my kubuntu...
You can also take a look at my quick-hacked frontend for rsnapshot (for KDE) - RetrospeKt: http://www.kde-apps.org/content/show.php/RetrospeKt?content=57952 I wrote it mostly for myself but it is really handy.
It's next to impossible to modify the Active Log track data on a Garmin GPS devices. That's the log file the GPS stores the current track data (usually the last 10,000 points) and it can only be downloaded to the computer. It can not be uploaded back. Any tracks that are uploaded from your computer are clearly marked. You could possibly disassemble the device and reprogram the chip but it would have to be done on the spot in a few seconds after being pulled over which is completely impossible. I can see absolutely no way you can fake the Garmin GPS data if you present the device as evidence on the spot. Also, from my experience, GPS devices are pretty accurate on the open road (much more accurate that the speed indicator in your car). And if the recorded speed is not correct it is always easily identified from an obvious positional error (if the positional data is more or less correct, so is the speed data).