MESSENGER Mercury Updates.

3488 · Jan 29, 2008

Thanks FranOntanaya, I have not had a really close look yet at the image. I see what you mean. It does look strange. Unfortunately, the Caloris Basin was under a high sun, hence the contrast being so awful to work with. I hope that we will see the NAC frames of this part of Mercury soon, so the crater in question will be seen at a considerably higher resolution. We will not be seeing the Caloris Basin at all during the October 2008 & September 2009 encounters as the Caloris Basin will be on the night side. However, the geometry of this encounter was superb in extending our coverage of the First Rock from the Sun. But that crater is strange. Shame it was on the side of Caloris that was not visible to Mariner 10. I would not rule out for one minute that it is / was volcanic. I will compare tonight with Io's volcanoes. This is EXACTLY the sort of thing that I am trying to find evidence for. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> Thank you very much for the tip off. <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>

3488 · Jan 29, 2008

Thanks RichAlex. <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>

3488 · Jan 29, 2008

A rather nice montage today. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> MESSENGER departing shots. 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 30, 2008

Don't forget, everyone: NASATV live broadcast of MESSENGER Press Conference @ 1:00 PM EST / 6:00 PM UT. Countdown to 2nd closest approach: Monday 6th October 2008. 250 Days. 0 Hour. 34 Minutes. 30 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 30, 2008

Thanx for the reminder Andrew!! <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>

MeteorWayne · Jan 30, 2008

Minutes away from the news conference Edit...underway now <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>

jsmoody · Jan 30, 2008

New color photo. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> No amount of belief makes something a fact" - James Randi </div>

3488 · Jan 30, 2008

WOW what a brilliant press conference. I missed the firtst ten minutes, but got to see
the Caloris Basin & other interesting
particularly volcanic news on Mercury.

Some of those radial features from 'The Spider' in the dead centre of Caloris, look to
me like collapsing lava tubes, like those seen at Pavonis Mons on Mars, etc.

I hope that image will be put up on the web in full resolution, so I can really examine it.

The Tolstoj Basin feature update was interesting too.

The altimetre showed a variation of 2,800 metres below the mean radius to 5,500 metres
above the mean radius of the planet.

Movie here of MESSENGER receding from Mercury.

Andrew Brown. "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/this ... anijournal

MeteorWayne · Jan 30, 2008

The first ten minutes was just a preview, introductions, and presentation of a plaque to the member of the science team who also worked on the Mariner 10 team. So you didn't miss much science. <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>

MeteorWayne · Jan 30, 2008

And yes, the spider is fascinating, since the lines (whatever they are) do not line up with the center of the crater, some bend, and to the lower left of the crater there appears to be an "arrowhead" shape that lines up with the spiders to the left of the crater. I think that will be my new desktop <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <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 30, 2008

Hi MeteorWayne, Have you been able to download that image??? Thanks for assuring me that I did not miss much (was delayed leaving work, a real bummer). I took down notes, so I will be back later with my own interpretations of the data. The Spider, I cannot help but think that not all of the lines are related to the crater. That feature you mentioned to the lower left of 'The Spider' appeared to me to be definately volcanic. I think that impact by chance whacked a volcanic area in the Caloris Basin, opening up some pre-existing lava tubes. The lines that are radial, certainly are related to the crater. As I said, I have not seen it yet at full resolution, so my judgement is currently reserved. <img src="/images/icons/blush.gif" /> Most fascinating stuff. My geometry was proven to be correct, what was said about the October encounter was exactly what I have already said, that we will get to see the rest of the unimaged terrain. <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>

3488 · Jan 30, 2008

Hi again MeteorWayne, I was being a bit quick. The Spider. Mercury's Sodium Tail. Mercury's magnetic field. First LASER altimetry. 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 31, 2008

Today's updates. Most amazing things today. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> Mercury's Violent History. Caloris Basin (MESSENGER west - Mariner 10 east). Seeking Mercury's minerology. Topographic Close up. Mercury Magnetosphere. Countdown to 2nd closest approach: Monday 6th October 2008. 248 Days. 22 Hours. 14 Minutes. 10 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>

bobblebob · Jan 31, 2008

Conference on again. I dont understand some of it but it sounds cool. Just goes to show we know very little about our universe

MeteorWayne · Jan 31, 2008

But I think the important point is that we learn more every day. That's all you can ask for from life <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> Wayne <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 31, 2008

That's very true. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> I have cropped an approx 620 KM wide portion of the centre of the Caloris Basin. The Spider is most evident. What is strange is a similar sized 40 KM wide crater to the west, which appears 'normal' with a classic ejecta blanket. This reinforces my previous notion that The Spider is an impact / volcanic feature (i.e the impactor struck an area rife with lava tubes & possibly lava flows, etc). The 80km wide double ringed crater to the south, looks quie intersting too. Looks as though that too is an impact in lava, but no tubes. Also here, Mercury Hydrogen Tail. 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 31, 2008

To me (and this is just off the top of the head speculation) the impression I get is that a volcanic event occurred much earlier in this location. Not necessarily the Caloris Basin event, probably later. Then some objects hit and exposed some underlying structure, as well as created some surface features. Again, just shooting off my speculationhead, it was a fluffy,very low angle impactor (comet) that created the arrowhead to the lower left of the main crater. Kreutz group? Marsden group? Something off of Phaetheon? I have no scientific justification for this idea, it just came to my mind and seems plausible. Wouldn't it be funny if that is shown to be true 2 years from now? <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> MW <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <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 31, 2008

Hi MeteorWayne, I trust your ideas on such matters. It makes perfect sense. I too would imagine that any volcanism in this area to be post Caloris. The crust in this area would have been thinner, as the Caloris Basin forming event, literaly reset the clock here. The fact that The Spider is pretty well dead centre, but the other craters, though not too far away do not share the same characteristics, backs up my idea. As you say, Mercury must be hit regularly by Kreutz, Marsden, 3200 Pheathon like objects. I would expect Mercury to be hit fairly frequently, being close to the Solar system's gravity well. <img src="/images/icons/crazy.gif" /> I can see (well hope) a lander / rover mission here sometime. I suspect that in 3 years from now, you will be proven correct. Your explanation does make perfect sense. This is most fascinating. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <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>

h2ouniverse · Jan 31, 2008

As a (very close) variant to your suggestion: What if the impactor blasted the thin crust at the summit of a smoldering lava dome? The lava would then naturally spill in rivers over the slopes of the dome, giving the dual aspect impact crater/volcano crater. That would hold if the terrain is more elevated at the center of the spider than on the periphery... Clues on whether that's true?

3488 · Jan 31, 2008

Thanks Joel, Your assessment backs up both MeteorWayne's & mine. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> The Spider IS clearly a hybrid feature, volcanism, modified by a subsequent impact. The Lava Dome idea, fits well with my own assessment, that the crust at the very centre of the Caloris Basin was thinner than under the surrounding plains. Also this fits well with MeteorWayne's statement that the volcanism was well after the Caloris forming event, which would be true, as a considerable time would be required for the crust to thicken up beneath the basin. At the press conferenece, it was said that the central peak was approx 1,000 metres tall, but was lower than the walls. What was not said, was whether of not the feature as a whole was elevated. Once again, thanks Joel. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> BTW, what do you make of Mercury's hydrogen tail??? Think it could be hydrogen liberated from polar crater ice, or hydrogen from the Sun being slowed by Mercury, or both?? 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 31, 2008

Hi Andrew, Re: H2 tail: Why not an active volcano (or active chasma) in the 25% uncharted territory? Regards

3488 · Jan 31, 2008

Thanks Joel, I hope that it is one or both of your suggestions. If true, we will have one hell of an encounter in October. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> That 25% is still a huge amount of terrain, so a large active volcano & / or chasma could still be hiding from us, though not for long. The hydrogen tail is exactly the same shape & size as the sodium tail. This does suggest to me that it is related to Mercury, rather than from the Sun, so perhaps a Hermean cause is more likely. Remember the Skinakas Basin still remains unimaged so there could still be activity going on there, but we get to see it in October. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> I have cropped & enlarged the inner 160 KM ring of 260 KM crater, released yesterday during the Press Conference. Interesting 'concentric' rilles close to the centre. Also they are not exactly central, but seem to circle a point to the east of the centre of the lava flooded floor. There are a couple of small dark splotches within the cirlcle of rilles. Perhaps now extinct fire fountains / ash fallout??? 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 · Feb 1, 2008

Mercury surprises from MESSENGER MESSENGER's recent flyby of Mercury has provided scientists with an entirely new, and surprising, view of the innermost planet. Provided by NASA This frame, taken by MESSENGER's Narrow Angle Camera, shows a region of Mercury's surface previously unseen by spacecraft and a large scarp crossing vertically through the scene, on the far right of the image. This scarp is the northern continuation of the one seen in the NAC image released on January 16. The width of this image is about 125 miles (200 kilometers), showing that these scarps can be hundreds of kilometers long on Mercury. NASA/JHUAPL/CIW [View Larger Image]January 30, 2008 The recent flyby of Mercury by NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft has given scientists an entirely new look at a planet once thought to have characteristics similar to those of Earth's moon. Researchers are amazed by the wealth of images and data that show a unique world with a diversity of geological processes and a very different magnetosphere from the one discovered and sampled more than 30 years ago. After a journey of more than 2 billion miles and three and a half years, NASA's MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry and Ranging spacecraft made its first flyby on Jan. 14. The mission is the first sent to orbit the planet closest to our sun. The spacecraft's cameras and other sophisticated, high-technology instruments collected more than 1,200 images and made other science observations. Data included the first up-close measurements of Mercury since the Mariner 10 spacecraft's third and final flyby on March 16, 1975. "This flyby allowed us to see a part of the planet never before viewed by spacecraft, and our little craft has returned a gold mine of exciting data," said Sean Solomon, MESSENGER's principal investigator, Carnegie Institution of Washington. "From the perspectives of spacecraft performance and maneuver accuracy, this encounter was near-perfect, and we

3488 · Feb 1, 2008

Nice article here also from Spaceflightnow.com. MeteorWayne, H2Ouniverse & myself have already covered the points within, but it is well written. 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 · Feb 1, 2008

Today's updates. MESSENGER approaches Mercury. MESSENGER departs Mercury. Double ringed crater. Hermean magnetosphere. Hermean Hydrogen tail. 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>

MESSENGER Mercury Updates.

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