Hmmm. Well the obvious answer would be to simply chart the positions of the visible planets and other bodies and show how the system is inconsistent with the earth at the center. (retro-grade motion and such).
Of course they could refute this by saying that “Just because that makes sense doesn’t mean it’s true. Maybe god moves the planets in such away as to give the illusion that we are orbiting the sun.”
The problem is that they say that this proof must be directly observable. So, while volumes of data exist which prove the structure of the solar system, much of it was obtained with equipment not available to the public. Thus, they could claim it is part of a government conspiracy or something.
I would say that the best absolute proof of the structure of the solar system would be that probes have been sent to all corners of it. If the solar system were not laid out in the manner science says it is, it would be impossible to navigate using the standard model, which most of us except. If it could be proven that these interplanetary probes are indeed on the trajectory which Nasa claims they are, then that would be very solid proof. But, in order to verify the paths and velocities of these probes, one would need access to the Deep Space Network, right? Not necessarily.
The relative position of some of these probes as well as the velocity and acceleration can be tracked with readily available equipment.
A Minimum system would require the following:
1. A large dish antenna – These are available, often free of charge, due to the fact that they have lost popularity as digital systems have come on the scene. A 10 foot dish would be the minimum, but larger dishes would be preferable. There are a few 14 and 16 food dishes, but you may have to look for them. In Alaska and Hawii, 20 foot dishes are not entirely uncommon. Of course, professional broadcasters may have even larger, but transportation may become an issue as many do not disassemble.
2. A high quality S-band tuned receiver with a low-noise amplifier and Downconverter. These are available from California amplifier.
3. Additional high-gain low-noise narrowband tuned amplifiers may be necessary.
4. High quality microwave coax.
5. A high power azimuth/altitude rotor and synchronous control. The actual size depends on the size of the dish in question. Yaesu makes a small one. There are plans avaliable for building a much larger one.
6. A receiver with sufficient frequency range to tune in the signal.
7. Analysis equipment. This may either be a computer interface for the receiver or a high-quality spectrum analyzer.
**it should be noted that this system is the BARE MINIMUM for receiving an interstellar probe. It will only work for relatively high-power probes, and those which are not in extremely deep space. Also, continuous reception may be tricky.
However, the system is also scalable for higher power. Adding additional dishes will both increase sensitivity and help to cancel out terrestrial interference, thus allowing for more amplification.
However, additional dishes cannot simply be spliced into the system. They must be connected through a well-tuned phased mixer, so that their signals remain perfectly synchronized.
While this system may require a bit of work to build, it has been done by some advanced radio enthusiasts. The total budget would depend on how much equipment one can build or scavenge. But it should be possible to put a working system together for a few thousand dollars.
Once the system is built, it would be simply a mater of observing the probes for a period of time and tracking their position and their signal’s dolper-shift and other characteristics to see if it is indeed consistent with the path nasa claims it is on.
Perhaps if this guy could be involved in the design, construction and operation of the system from the ground up, that would dispel the idea that the signal was being faked???
-Steve
