MESSENGER Mercury Updates.

MeteorWayne · Jan 24, 2008

Good point Andrew. They should have put the raw image side by side with the one including the circles. I thought that (quite irritated in fact) but was tied up with other things so did not complain about it. I haven't calculated Gaspra's imaged surface area, but it's probably further away than this image. Could be wrong. We'll have to compare the resolution with the crater density. <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>

silylene old · Jan 24, 2008

Their crater counting algorithm missed some small craters and several crater 'ghosts' which are nearly buried under basalt. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature" align="center">- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - </div><div class="Discussion_UserSignature" align="center">I really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function. </div> </div>

3488 · Jan 24, 2008

Hi silylene, I was just picking up on that very same fact myself. They have missed an awful lot of craters & hills. There are quite a few 'ghosts' & I think they will be extremely useful in helping to determine the history of the surface here. Clearly lava has buried some pre existing craters, only for that same lava to be pocked marked itself later on. It is a shame the news that brellis posted, that the raw images are being witheld till April 2009. As with MeteorWayne, I hoped they would have posted alongside the same image without the coloured circles. There is an awful lot of information in that one image alone. Just think of what further analysis of these MESSENGER images will tell us about Mercury. It is probably a good time to re examine the Mariner 10 images as well. 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 24, 2008

Of course MeteorWayne. It is a difficult one. I do not know much about today's image other than its imaged width. There is no comment on how far away MESSENGER was & what original frame today's image was cropped from. My hunch is that it must be one of the very first NAC images post closest approach. If so that will be a resolution of approx 115 metres per pixel, approx 9 degrees south of the equator. MESSENGER would have been aprox 4,200 KM away from Mercury at this time. Galileo was approx 5,300 Km from 951 Gaspra, during closest approach, with an image resolution of 54 metres per pixel. So perhaps, if I am correct about the Mercury image, a direct comparison can be made. Mind you 951 Gaspra hangs out @ about 2.2 AU from the Sun, in the inner part of the Asteroid Belt, where as Mercury is close to the central gravity well of the Solar System, about 0.35 AU from the Sun. 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>

anthmartian · Jan 25, 2008

Hello all. It is great to be able to visit again after a break in being online. I now have very limited internet access. So, i apologize for any large gaps in time between posts or PM's etc. I have managed to update my web site with a couple of MESSENGER images. http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth Forgive me for not contributing much to the topic beyond that link. I am a bit frantic and rushing through a whole host of things online right now. I hope to be able to pop in a lot more, and contribute to topics more as i settle in to a routine a bit following my moving house. See you all soon. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <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 25, 2008

Great to see you again Anthmartian. Moving house is always a great pain, something I try to avoid like the plague. Edited: Link had corrupted, so I have reposted it after Jon's post 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 25, 2008

BTW, has anyone else tried to open the image on the page I have linked too? It does not seem to work. <img src="/images/icons/mad.gif" /> 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>

JonClarke · Jan 25, 2008

Yes I have and no it doesn't. Perhaps look for it again and re-post? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars Arthur Clarke </div>

3488 · Jan 25, 2008

Hi Jon, I have reposted the link here. Differing view of Mercury. This one appears to be fine. A rather nice WAC image, showing a region of approx 1,000 KM across. 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>

brellis · Jan 25, 2008

Astronomy dot com article: "MESSENGER at Mercury" <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> I'm a recovering optimist - things could be better. </div>

3488 · Jan 26, 2008

Cheers Brad, a well written article. Today's update. Looking north on Mercury. I have had a go at cropping the north west portion of this image. Enlargement & crop of extensive northern Lava plains. North East crop of north polar image. That last image, I really had to darken considerably, but turned the contrast up. Came out pretty well IMO. I hope the image taken below this one will be released. It will contain the outher rim of the Skinakas Basin. This area shows a large number of fairly large lava flooded craters. Related to the Skinakas forming event??? 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>

JonClarke · Jan 26, 2008

I will unsticky this tomorrow as it will have been two weeks since the flyby and let the thread sink into quiesence. We don't want the front end end of the forum too cluttered by sticky threads. Unles of course there are violent objections! Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars Arthur Clarke </div>

3488 · Jan 26, 2008

Hi Jon, I wonder if its worth waiting till the 1st February, after the MESSENGER Press Conference??? There may be mosaics & many more image & data releases then. Just my opinion only. Had a go at bringing out the lava flooded craters in Mercury's high northern latitudes. Lava flooded craters. 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 26, 2008

My guess is it will float to the top for the next week or so, even without a sticky <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> IIRC, the big release will be before the end of the month. <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 26, 2008

Yes on: Wednesday 30th January 2008. Dunno what time though. I wonder if they will mention new volcanic features & / or the Skinakas Basin? Hope to get to see the multispectral data & conclusions about the fully lit Caloris Basin. I expect MeteorWayne & myself will continue to post the daily updates on here. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> 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>

JonClarke · Jan 26, 2008

OK, I will leave sticky here for a bit longer then. Although as you say with the data release it is going to stay high for a while. cheers Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars Arthur Clarke </div>

3488 · Jan 26, 2008

Cheers Jon. I keep finding things of interest in these images released already, let alone those coming up before & after the Press Conference. Looking at today's release yet again, I found this portion of today's northern image very interesting. Interconnecting lava flooded channels & craters. Also another cropped detail of the huge scarp on previously unimaged area. 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 27, 2008

Very interesting update today. Mercury's long cliffs. Also had a go at cropping & enlarging the actual scarp. Another crop here from today's image, showing a radial canyon & craters, approx 150 KM long. 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>

alokmohan · Jan 28, 2008

Can you ever have any practical use ,like moon or mars?Can you ever terraform?I may be slightly off topic.But even then.

richalex · Jan 28, 2008

<blockquote>In reply to:<hr />Can you ever have any practical use ,like moon or mars?Can you ever terraform?I may be slightly off topic.But even then.<hr /></blockquote>I suppose that depends on what you consider a practical use, but we would know better what we could do with Mercury when we know more what its properties are. It would make an interesting place for a solar collection station, to say nothing of a solar observatory. Who knows what minerals it might have, or if it would be worth extracting them.

3488 · Jan 28, 2008

Hi RichAlex, I agree. Mercury is likely a prime piece of real estate. Hi alokmohan. I think MeteorWayne & myself have explained more than once why Mercury is being examined in closer detail. 1). First visit in 33 years, since third & final encounter with Mariner 10 (using modern instruments). 2). To view previouisly unimaged terrain (was 55%, now 25% October 2008 5%). 3). To view features on Mercury from differing lighting angles. 4). To obtain high resolution multispectral data to determine surface composition. 5). To determine the central mass of Mercury & how that relates to the global magnetosphere. 6). Mercury is one of our closest planetary neighbours (sometimes the second closest major natural body to the Earth, after the Moon if Venus & Mars are not in alignment), yet we know comparitively little about it, in relation to Venus & Mars. In fact our coverage of the major moons of Jupiter & Saturn is more complete, yet Mercury is in our backyard. 7). Mercury is unusually dense & massive in relation to its size, due to a collosal iron rich core. Why? 8). Did Mercury form at its current distance from the Sun, or did Mercury migrate inwards? 9). How does the impact cratering history of Mercury, compare to the Moon, Mars, Ganymede, Callisto, Rhea, Iapetus etc?? 10). What is the nature of the huge iron core. Is it solid, partially molten or fully molten?? 11). Does Mercury still exibit any active volcanism? 12). Is there ice in the polar craters? 13). To view surface features from differing angles, to create 3D mapping. 14). To determine Mercury's actual shape with greter precision. 15). See the post from RichAlex above. Anyway, below is today's very interesting update. http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/gallery/sciencePhot</safety_wrapper <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>

jsmoody · Jan 28, 2008

In looking at the latest photos, I've noted how much Mercury resembles the Moon. And I recalled something about how the Moon was formed. I believe current theory is that a Mars-sized object hit the Earth and Knocked a lot of the outer mantle off and into space, where it re-accreted and formed the Moon. Evicenced partly by the fact that the Moon is mostly rock, with little or no metal in it's core. I wondered what might have happened to the original impacting body. It would probably have lost a lot of it's outer mantle as well...could it have migrated inward toward the Sun until it settled into a stable orbit...? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> No amount of belief makes something a fact" - James Randi </div>

3488 · Jan 28, 2008

Hi jsmoody, A fascinating theory. You reckon Mercury could be the lower mantle & core of the supposed impacter that alledgely created the Moon? I am no supporter of the giant impact theory regarding the formation of the moon, but, if indeed, such a huge impact did create the moon, then there is an increased chance that perhaps Mercury is what's left of the impactor. I dunno, but it is a most interesting idea you have there jsmoody. Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts here with us. I have cropped & enlarged the Caloris Basin & the terminator including the giant scarp & weird, elongated crater from today's image. BTW, on: Wednesday 30th January 2008 @ 13:00 EST / 18:00 UT, the eagerly anticipated MESSENGER Press Conference is on NASA TV. 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>

franontanaya · Jan 28, 2008

That rimless pit with a soft albedo gradient at southwest Caloris doesn't look at all like a crater, does it? It looks like an Io's volcano. I wish the whites in the image weren't so saturated. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

richalex · Jan 28, 2008

The core of the impactor is believed to be inside Earth. Wikipedia: Giant impact hypothesis Don't look at me; I'm a Creationist!

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