Mercury MESSENGER Update Thread

3488 · Jan 8, 2008

MESSENGER to shortly return navigation images of Mercury. Carnegie Institute for Science. Washington D.C article These will the first Spacecraft images of Mercury for 33 years Countdown to closest approach: 5 Days. 20 Hours. 8 Minutes. 00 Seconds. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "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". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

3488 · Jan 9, 2008

Hi all, I've just emailed Eric Finnegan @ JHU, to enquire about the first images. If I hear anything I will report back. Mercury is now 2.74 million km & is a 13% crescent from MESSENGER. Countdown to closest approach: 5 Days. 10 Hours. 10 Minutes. 20 Seconds. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "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". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

3488 · Jan 10, 2008

Hi all, First Mercury image from MESSENGER. It is on the website, but I was just emailed a link from JHU. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> Sometimes, if you ask, you do get. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> Had a go @ enlargening & sharpening said image. I hope other members of SDC do not think that I am trolling or spamming. After all we will very shortly be seeing the first new decent views of Mercury since Mariner 10, some 33 years ago. Also we will get to see a large unimaged swathe for the very first time Countdown to closest approach: 4 Days. 0 Hour. 8 Minutes. 20 Seconds. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "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". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

Philotas · Jan 10, 2008

After all the images from the icy realms of Saturn, it is going to be interesting to get some real views from a world so much closer to the Sun. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

3488 · Jan 10, 2008

Very true & also we will get to see in detail a previously unimaged portion. IMO, this encounter will show us enough, to reveal whether or not, what Mariner 10 imaged is representative of Mercury as a whole. Best Map to date from Mariner 10, Arecibo & SOAR. Countdown to closest approach: 3 Days. 18 Hours. 58 Minutes. 40 Seconds. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "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". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

jmilsom · Jan 10, 2008

This is going to be a really interesting mission. I just read an overview in the latest issue of New Scientist. Even the first flyby should shed some light on he many unanswered questions about Mercury's composition and formation. During the first flyby, I read, Messenger will be able to measure the mass distribution of the planet and so tell the extent of the planet's molten core. The first readings of the magnetic field will also be made. Can't wait to read the outcomes and see the first close-up pictures. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

anthmartian · Jan 11, 2008

thanks for the info. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> I will be off line for a few months, but i will be following the mission whenever i can. As usual, i am very excited! I managed to bring out some surface detail on that first approach image. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2236/2186035842_348bdd69fc.jpg?v=0 Thanks to Andrew for inspiring me! In the image i have attempted to blow up the image ( Andrew is the blow up expert, not me ) i have also included the original sized enhanced verson bottom right. Original released image is top right. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "Traveling through hyperspace ain't like dusting crops, boy! Without precise calculations we could fly right through a star, or bounce too close to a supernova and that'd end your trip real quick, wouldn't it?"Han Solo - 1977 - A long time ago in a galaxy far far away.... Click Here And jump over to my site. </div>

3488 · Jan 11, 2008

Hi Anthmartian, I should be thanking you. Like the Titan, Enceladus, Dione, Iapetus & Phoebe encounters with Cassini & the Jupiter / Io encounter with New Horizons, the pre orbital Mercury encounters with MESSENGER are very highly anticipated Wonderful Mercury panel. I had a go at enlargement myself, but could not tease out any detail, unlike yourself IMO your images show real detail, the craters on the crescent appear forshortened, exactly as would be the case Image noise would not display that I will come back & try to explain what features your image is revealing This is Mariner 10 terrain, but seen under very different illumination (the Sun is shining from the other direction) The outgoing side will show brand new unseen terrain We will get to see the Caloris Basin in its entirety & we will get to see if the suspected Skinakas Basin actually exists on Monday Second released approach image. The crescent Mercury does appear somewhat larger There is some detail just becoming visible. Anthmartian, Where are you?????<img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> Countdown to closest approach: 2 Days. 22 Hours. 17 Minutes. 10 Seconds. A <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "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". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

anthmartian · Jan 11, 2008

Andrew : *red face here* i assumed the image i was working with was the previous image featured here! You can tell i am wrapped up in my move, i did not even notice todays date of the release. I went right to the image you linked, "saved as" and i got a message saying it already existed in my new MESSENGER folder *LOL* So, to correct myself, and clarify things. The image i enhanced was the second released approach shot. Which was released today. I agree though Andrew. I believe those really are real features. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "Traveling through hyperspace ain't like dusting crops, boy! Without precise calculations we could fly right through a star, or bounce too close to a supernova and that'd end your trip real quick, wouldn't it?"Han Solo - 1977 - A long time ago in a galaxy far far away.... Click Here And jump over to my site. </div>

3488 · Jan 11, 2008

Hi jmilsom, Very true. Even at the end of this encounter, many mission objectives will have been achieved Yes MESSENGER will be able to measure the mass distribution of the first rock from the Sun & the magnetosphere readings in conjunction with the mass measurements will help determine core dynamics The close encounters on Monday 6th October 2008 & Tuesday 29th September 2009 will assist with this From an imaging point of view, this encounter is probably the best one of all, as this one reveals the most of the unseen hemisphere Countdown to closest approach: 2 Days. 21 Hours. 29 Minutes. 40 Seconds. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "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". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

h2ouniverse · Jan 11, 2008

Latest news: To avoid the extra-cost generated by the management of potential discoveries on uncharted areas of Mercury, the Financial Committee has forced NASA to alter the approach strategy so as to fly over known territories.

3488 · Jan 11, 2008

Hi Joel, Where did you get that from? Surely the trajectory now is commited? The October 2008 & September 2009 encounters are certainly over already imaged terrain. Countdown to closest approach: 2 Days. 21 Hours. 21 Minutes. 40 Seconds. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "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". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

MeteorWayne · Jan 11, 2008

Got a link to that, or is it a joke? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

3488 · Jan 11, 2008

Hi MeteorWayne, I hope it is the latter option you suggested. Like yourself, I for one will be very bitterly disappointed if that is true. <img src="/images/icons/mad.gif" /> This encounter if kept to the current trajectory will reveal much new terrain & should not be abandoned, just because of some overpaid bean counter says so. I hope that Joel's post is a joke. If not, don't know who to contact to show our frustration at. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "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". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

Philotas · Jan 11, 2008

There is also an image showing surface details in this article at NASA: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/messenger/multimedia/mercury_flyby.html <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

3488 · Jan 11, 2008

Hi Philotas, Thank you very much for that tip off. I have done a bit of work on the crescent & yes there is a fair bit of detail. Seems to match up to Anthmartian's image very well. I am a little worried by Joel's post. I just hope it is a wind up. Countdown to closest approach: 2 Days. 20 Hours. 30 Minutes. 18 Seconds. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "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". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

h2ouniverse · Jan 11, 2008

Sorry all, I was joking. That it could not be recognized as a joke says it all (unfortunately) about the credibility of such kafkaian scenario. Let's hope the uncharted terrain will include puzzling features!

3488 · Jan 11, 2008

Thanks Joel, That's a huge relief. Many of us have been waiting for this encounter for a very long time, owing to the excellent geometry of the encounter (the best of the three pre-orbital encounters). The reason why MeteorWayne & myself could not see it as a joke, is because we are both very aware of how bean counters can wreck the potential of something like this just to save a few paltry $$$. I remember all too well the I33 / A34 encounters with the Galileo Spacecraft, when the decision was made by the PTB to not image the Jovian facing side of Io & the asteroid sized moon Amalthea from very close quarters, just to save a few dollars. I remember that very well (I was part of the campaign to reverse that crap decision beforehand, but we failed) & it still fills me with bitter disappointment (Galileo's cameras were still operational at that point & Galileo did not go into safing until nine hours after the Amalthea encounter). Your joke, was reminiscent of that episode, that was why, I was filled with horror, along with MeteorWayne & could not see the joke. Don't worry, it is me & my crappy brain also. I often find it difficult to see a joke as a joke, due to High Functioning Autism Cheers, Countdown to closest approach: 2 Days. 20 Hours. 12 Minutes. 48 Seconds. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "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". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

h2ouniverse · Jan 11, 2008

Hi Andrew, I deeply apologize for having tortured you. The intent was cynical not sadistic. That you experienced something similar for REAL is desperating. (and beyond my imagination actually). If I had not been doing something else during this latter hour I would have corrected it asap instead of letting you in the pond. Btw I hope your condition will improve. And that the mercury will drop as Mercury rises. Best regards.

3488 · Jan 11, 2008

Hi Joel, That's fine, you did not know. You know what it is like yourself, as you too are a strong & worthy advocate of planetary exploration. I was in the thick of the campaign to attempt to reverse the decision of the abandonment of all imaging for the I33 / A34 encounter with Galileo. MeteorWayne was not best pleased either IMO. Back to the subject at hand, Mercury. Yes we will see hopefully many new features & after this pass, we will: 1). Know if The Skinakas Basin exists. 2). Get to see The Caloris Basin in its entirety. 3). Get the first high resolution mineral maps of Mercury. 4). Get to see more of the huge scarps. 5). Obtain evidence of volcanic processes. 6). Get more magnetosphere & mass data. 7). Obtain imaging of some known features under a very different lighting angle. 8). Get night time thermal data @ closest approach. 9). See if the cratering sizes / distribution continues on from what we have seen through Mariner 10. 10). Obtain more data concerning the 'atmosphere' (more like an Ionosphere) of Mercury (outgassings, etc) Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "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". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

3488 · Jan 12, 2008

Image from: Friday 11th January 2008. Please see this from Anthmartian on This Island Earth. Anthmartian has been able to pull some detail from the approach image of Mercury on: Thursday 10th January 2008. I believe they are real & think Anthmartian has revealed Matisse Crater on the Eight O Clock position highly foreshortened. Matisse Crater: 23 degrees South, 90 West & is approx 200 KM across. Countdown to closest approach: 2 Days. 2 Hours. 34 Minutes. 38 Seconds. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "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". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

cbased · Jan 14, 2008

http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/encounters/index.php near-real time tracking

soulseekerusa · Jan 14, 2008

Amazing how long it will take this probe to go into a real orbit around Mercury. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

MeteorWayne · Jan 14, 2008

"Initial indications from the radio signals indicate the spacecraft is still operating nominally. The first science data return from the flyby was received today, just minutes before the closest approach point with the planet, as planned. â€œThe engineers and operators at the Deep Space Network (DSN) in Goldstone, Calif., in conjunction with engineers at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Md., pulled off a tremendous feat, acquiring and locking onto the downlink signal from the spacecraft within seconds, providing the necessary Doppler measurements for the Radio Science teamâ€ said MESSENGER Mission Systems Engineer Eric Finnegan, of APL.â€œ The spacecraft is continuing to collect imagery and other scientific measurements from the planet as we now depart Mercury from the illuminated side, documenting for the first time the previously unseen surface of the planet.â€ <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

brellis · Jan 14, 2008

Emily Lackdawalla's Planetary blog I just managed to get a phone call in to someone at MESSENGER's Science Operations Center and MESSENGER has been heard from, post-occultation; they've reacquired the signal from the spacecraft, they "saw the Doppler" (meaning they're tracking it and it's where they expected to be, at the speed they expected it to be at) and "We think we're in good shape." There's no possibility of information yet on the science data from the flyby -- with MESSENGER still well in to its science timeline there's no possibility of telemetry from the spacecraft, we're only hearing a beacon tone broadcast from its low-gain antenna to indicate that the spacecraft is still alive -- but the primary goal of the first Mercury flyby has been accomplished: to drop MESSENGER into a lower orbit, reducing its speed and its orbital period, setting it up for the next flyby in October and eventually to its 2011 entry into orbit. Onward, MESSENGER! /safety_wrapper> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> I'm a recovering optimist - things could be better. </div>

Mercury MESSENGER Update Thread

3488

Guest

3488

Guest

3488

Guest

Philotas

Guest

3488

Guest

jmilsom

Guest

anthmartian

Guest

3488

Guest

anthmartian

Guest

3488

Guest

h2ouniverse

Guest

3488

Guest

MeteorWayne

Guest

3488

Guest

Philotas

Guest

3488

Guest

h2ouniverse

Guest

3488

Guest

h2ouniverse

Guest

3488

Guest

3488

Guest

cbased

Guest

soulseekerusa

Guest

MeteorWayne

Guest

brellis

Guest

Similar threads

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Share this page