DAWN mission to orbit 1 Ceres & 4 Vesta.

[rybanis]

<p>Wheee!</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I forgot about the cameras. For some reason I thought they wouldn't be doing science observations on this flyby. </p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

<p>CA -5 hr.</p><p>Altitude 52,918 km.</p><p>Speed 10,160 km/hr</p><p>Mars is now 18 times the size of the sun in the sky....</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>CA -5 hr.Altitude 52,918 km.Speed 10,160 km/hrMars is now 18 times the size of the sun in the sky.... <br />Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV><br /><br />CA - 4 Hr.</p><p>Altitude 42,780 km</p><p>Speed 10,369 km/Hr</p><p>Mars is now 22 times the size of the sun.</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'><font color="#ff0000">Wheee!&nbsp;I forgot about the cameras. For some reason I thought they wouldn't be doing science observations on this flyby. <br /> Posted by rybanis</font></DIV><br /><p><font size="2"><strong>Hi rybanis,</strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Yes DAWN will be using the primary Framing Camera. During closest approach Mars will be streaked across the frame to give each pixel an equal workout & will test the performance.</strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>However, post CA DAWN will obtain a departure movie of the rotating Mars. Then some time later, DAWN will point agfain at Mars as a 4 Vesta arrival rehearsal.</strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>BTW DAWN is approaching Mars from the night side at approx 60 degerees North (almost as far north as the Phoenix Mars Lander)& will depart at approx 60 degrees south, so that will be an interesting departure movie with the south polar cap dominating & rotating.</strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Hopefully we may get to see Phobos & / or Deimos, but such a high inclination rules them out. </strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>From DAWN Mars currently (21:02 HRS UTC) appears in front of the head of Hydra, between Canis Minor & Leo on the border of Hydra & Cancer. </strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Here is a link to the DAWN Mars observation plans.</strong></font></p><font size="4">Details of DAWN Mars encounter in February 2009.</font><p>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'><font color="#ff0000">CA - 4 Hr.Altitude 42,780 kmSpeed 10,369 km/HrMars is now 22 times the size of the sun. <br /> Posted by MeteorWayne</font></DIV></p><p><strong><font size="2" color="#000000">Cheers Wayne, </font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="2" color="#000000">Not too long now, though it's a bit late for us here in the UK, though there will not be anything to see yet for a while. </font></strong></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Andrew Brown. </strong></font></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

<p><font size="2"><strong>Primary observations commence in 12' 15".</strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Andrew Brown. </strong></font></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Primary observations commence in 12' 15".Andrew Brown. <br />Posted by 3488</DIV><br /><br />Primary camera is now on</p><p>CA-3 hr</p><p>Altitude 32,425 km</p><p>Speed toward Mars 10,697 km/hr (3.0 km/sec)</p><p>Mars is now 28.5 times the size in the sun...in our sky it would be about the size of the bowl&nbsp;of the Big Dipper (or Great Plough&nbsp;<img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-wink.gif" border="0" alt="Wink" title="Wink" /> )</p><p>MW</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'><font color="#ff0000">Primary camer...........................................</font></p><p><font color="#ff0000"> Posted by MeteorWayne</font></DIV></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Hi Wayne, Mars is literally growing as DAWN looks on. </strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Primary observations should have begun by now, DAWN will shortly be slewing to track Mars continually & will be crossing the orbit of the outer smaller Mars moon Deimos in only 47' time.</strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Mars is now appearing 30.11 times the size of the Sun.</strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Andrew Brown. </strong></font></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

<p><font size="2"><strong>DAWN will be crossing the orbit of the outer smaller Mars moon Deimos in only 30' time & is now slewing to track Mars.</strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Mars is now appearing 33.25 times the size of the Sun.</strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Andrew Brown. <br /></strong></font> </p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Hi Wayne, Mars is literally growing as DAWN looks on. Primary observations should have begun by now, DAWN will shortly be slewing to track Mars continually & will be crossing the orbit of the outer smaller Mars moon Deimos in only 47' time.Mars is now appearing 30.11 times the size of the Sun.Andrew Brown. <br />Posted by 3488</DIV><br /><br />Indeed, CA - 2.5 Hr</p><p>Altitude 27,139 km</p><p>Speed 10,946 km/Hr</p><p>Mars is now 33 times the size of the sun. Within minutes it will be as large as Orion is in our sky.</p><p>The spacecraft has reoriented itself by now for Mars imaging, so the main signal has been lost. It will be recovered in about a day and a half for download of the data.</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'><font color="#ff0000">Indeed, CA - 2.5 HrAltitude 27,139 kmSp............. <br /> Posted by MeteorWayne</font></DIV></p><p><font size="2"><strong>That is very true, there will be a weaker telemetry link, giving engineers the data they need to show that DAWN is at least operating.</strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>The main link will be lost for that day & a half to enable the Mars departure movie approx 1 sol & other miscellaneous data to be obtained.</strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>The downlink at that point on Thursday will show us what DAWN actually saw & also we'll know for sure that the instrumentation is up to the tasks awaiting them at 4 Vesta & 1 Ceres. </strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>15' 30" now till DAWN crosses the orbit of the smaller of the Martian moons Deimos.</strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Mars now appears 36.27 times the size of the Sun.</strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Andrew Brown. </strong></font></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

<p><font size="2"><strong>DAWN has just crossed the orbit of the smaller of the Martian moons Deimos & is now within the Mars system.</strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>DAWN crosses orbit of Phobos in 1 hour & 25'. </strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Mars now appears 40.63 times the size of the Sun.</strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Andrew Brown. </strong></font><br />&nbsp; </p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

<p>CA - 2 hr.</p><p>Dawn has now passed closet approach to Deimos (~ 16,000 km)</p><p>Altitude 21,700 km</p><p>Speed 11,300 km/h (3.1 km/sec)</p><p>Mars now 41 times as large as the sun (15.4 degrees)</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'><font color="#ff0000">CA - 2 hr.Dawn has now passed closet approach to Deimos............. <br /> Posted by MeteorWayne</font></DIV></p><p><strong><font size="2">I'm signing off now as I have to be up fairly early tomorrow, so Wayne will most likely take the updates through DAWN's periareion.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="2">I will certainly read what Wayne will have posted & hopefully I can be of more use with the post encounter updates.</font></strong></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Mars now appears 46.44 times larger than the Sun. Mars is growing rapidly as seen from DAWN.</strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Good night every one. </strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Andrew Brown. </strong></font></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

<p>See ya later, my friend </p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>See ya later, my friend <br />Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV></p><p>About an hour away from Phobos CA</p><p>CA - 1.5 hr to Mars</p><p>Altitude 16.248 km</p><p>Speed 11,837 km/h (3.3 km/sec)</p><p>Mars now 52 times as large as the sun</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>LOOKOUT!!! <br /></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>About an hour away from Phobos CACA - 1.5 hr to MarsAltitude 16.248 kmSpeed 11,837 km/h (3.3 km/sec)Mars now 52 times as large as the sun&nbsp;LOOKOUT!!! <br />Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV><br /><br />CA - 1.0 hr to Mars.</p><p>Altitude 10,561 km</p><p>Speed toward Mars 12,771 km/hr (3.5 km/s)</p><p>Mars is now 72 times the size of the sun from Dawn's viewpoint, covering over 27 degrees in the sky.</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>CA - 1.0 hr to Mars.Altitude 10,561 kmSpeed toward Mars 12,771 km/hr (3.5 km/s)Mars is now 72 times the size of the sun from Dawn's viewpoint, covering over 27 degrees in the sky. <br />Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV><br /><br />1/2 hour to Mars Close approach. Dawn has already come it's closet to Phobos at ~ 8000 km.</p><p>Altitude above Mars 4700 km</p><p>Approach Speed 14,875 km/hr (4.1 km/sec)</p><p>Mars now covers 45 degrees, 120 times the diameter of the sun. Thatmeans it would strtech from the Hoorizon to halfway up in the sky (higher than the North star for anyone in North America)</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[rybanis]

I imagine DAWN has a hell of a view right now.... <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[rybanis]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>I imagine DAWN has a hell of a view right now.... <br /> Posted by rybanis</DIV></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I stand corrected: not if its passing over the night side... </p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[3488]

<p><strong><font size="2">Quick chime in</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="2">Mars now appearing 12.1 times the size of the Sun, 81,700 KM away, is an approx 55% gibbous literally just to the north east of Vega / Alpha Lyrae as seen from DAWN on the Lyra / Hercules border.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="2">DAWN should be shooting the Mars Rotation departure movie now.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="2">Andrew Brown.</font></strong></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

<p><strong><font size="2">Mars now appearing 7.86 times the size of the Sun, 126,600 KM away.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="2">Mars is now shrinking to the N E of Vega / Alpha Lyrae as viewed from DAWN.&nbsp;</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="2">Andrew Brown.</font></strong></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

<p><font size="2"><strong>So far superb news.</strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>1). DAWN is on the exact trajectory, the maneuver was successful & 4 Vesta certainly is reachable assuming the ION drive continues to operate well, once it's switched back on.</strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>2). Telemetry so far shows no safing events & that DAWN is still obtaining data, though the HGA will point towards Earth in approx 14 hours & 55' to begin the first major download. </strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>So far it's looking great.</strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Spaceflightnow article.&nbsp; </strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Mars now appears 5.15 times larger than the Sun from 195,600 KM. </strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Andrew Brown. </strong></font></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

<p><font size="2"><strong>Mars now appears 4.55 times larger than the Sun from 221,500 KM. </strong></font></p><p> <font size="2"><strong>HGA will point towards Earth in approx 12 hours & 7' to begin the first major download. </strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Andrew Brown.&nbsp;</strong></font> </p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[symbolite]

Can't wait to see some images of this fly-by. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Can't wait to see some images of this fly-by. <br />Posted by symbolite</DIV><br /><br />In a side note, Ceres is at opposition (up all night, closest to earth, brightest) on Feb 25th. This is the brightest it has been for the last 150 years, and won't be this bright again until 4164. See thread in Ask the Astronomer. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>