> On Sep 28, 2015, at 5:18 PM, Kurt Feltenberger <xxxxxx@thepaw.org> wrote:
>
>> What does 'observe a planet' mean?
>> Continuous coverage of the entire surface needs multiple observers in different positions.
>
> Mostly traffic to and from the world, though the sensors would have the resolution to discern large structures on the surface.
>
> The world in question is uninhabited, has no artificial satellites, and is suspected of being used as some sort of staging base by a group within the government for a coup or other disruptive actions. They don't need to be able to count noses or how many cars are in the parking lot, just observe the traffic and what's going on.

Establishing the parameters is useful.

You said ‘Watch a planet without being detected’ we presumed “reconnaissance of an inhabited planet” not “Stakeout of a criminal hideout.”

Approach from the opposite side of the planet, stealthily. Land and come up to just the horizon of the site. Bring nicely camouflaged sensor arrays, solar powered batteries, a pup tent and lots of coffee and pizza.

Bad guys not wanting to be noticed aren’t going to be that open about counter surveillance. They don’t want folks to know they’re there, so no sensor arrays, no overflights or regular sentry patrols, etc.

if, in YTU, jump flash is a thing, they’d have some wide-sky telescopes watching for that, but that’d be easy to spoof; jump in with an innocuous merchie, spit out a stealthy 30-ton boat packed with the aforesaid sensors, pizza and beer, sneak into the planet while merchie refuels and jumps out normally., just another ship passing through.

--
Bruce Johnson
University of Arizona
College of Pharmacy
Information Technology Group

Institutions do not have opinions, merely customs