MESSENGER Mercury Updates.

3488 · Jul 14, 2008

These two directories hold the gems of the Mercury 1 encounter.This directory out of the multitudes is probably the best one.Mercury approach crescents, Caloris Basin, other craters, Beagle Rupes, shield volcano, lava flows, etc.This one ain't too bad either.  Mercury receding.Countdown to 2nd closest approach: Monday 6th October 2008. 83 Days. 17 Hours. 17 Minutes.  17 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 · Jul 17, 2008

Hi everyone, the directories were moved on the PDS, but I have hunted & found them again ( a long job that was). I have relinked them to the existing links above. They are working again now.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 · Jul 30, 2008

This week's update.Albedo variations on Mercury. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/1/3/c1992493-18eb-4506-9347-dd6451be9cff.Medium.jpg" alt="" />Countdown to 2nd closest approach: Monday 6th October 2008. 68 Days.  00 Hours.  35 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 · Aug 27, 2008

Most recent MESSENGER updates.Rupes, Rupes everywhere. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/15/7/5f56b436-4f85-41a4-8793-bb10de50be94.Medium.jpg" alt="" />  Mapping a Volcano on Mercury. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/11/12/cb4827bb-f5d2-45b7-9c31-f09547eb70d0.Medium.jpg" alt="" /> <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/13/11/8d25a1fc-e780-4003-8baa-d8fb5dd84c91.Medium.jpg" alt="" /> Mercury's Tail. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/11/5/3b954a9e-bad4-4083-a586-26a800f2d0aa.Medium.jpg" alt="" />Countdown to 2nd closest approach: Monday 6th October 2008. 39 Days.  10 Hours.  18 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 · Sep 23, 2008

From Astronomy Now: http://www.astronomynow.com/mercurysspiderformationlinkedtoasteroidimpact.html <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/3/0/733d0334-7583-4b2f-b0c7-89585b56f64f.Medium.jpg" alt="" /><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="770"><tbody><tr align="left" valign="top"><td width="20">

MeteorWayne · Sep 23, 2008

It's less than 2 weeks away. Since the First Flyby thread is so large, I thought maybe we should start a new one for the Mercury Encounter part deux.... <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 · Sep 23, 2008

Dan Muller's Real Time Simulation Page.... http://www.dmuller.net/realtime/index.php?mission=messenger <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 · Sep 23, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Dan Muller's Real Time Simulation Page....http://www.dmuller.net/realtime/index.php?mission=messenger Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV>Thanks Wayne,I was thinking of starting a thread also.Request please to the Moderators.Can this thread be made a stickie till after the encounter & initial flyby images are received.This IS going to be fascinating, one of the major mega highlights of 2008, alongside the first encounter, Mars Phoenix Lander & the Cassini Enceladus passes.The vast majority of the currently unimaged terrain, since the pass back in January & Mariner 10 will be imaged on this pass. IIRC only 2% of Mercury afterwards will remain unimaged. For the first time in history, we will have a decent global map of the First Rock from the Sun & be able to characterise the entire global geology, well hermeological features & makeup of Mercury.Finally, we'll find out if the Skinakas Basin exists. I think the first encounter DID image a small portion of the very outermost rim, but we'll see. If it exists, the rest of Skinakas will be in sunlight & full view during the approach.During approach, Mercury as back in January, will appear in crescent phase, but the terrain will be approx half of the unimaged terrain, including the suspected Skinakas Basin in the Northern Hemisphere. Skinakas if it exists will be in the top half of the growing crescent & we will get to see it well before closest approach. In fact everything seen during the approach will be new to our eyes. As such lets hope the approach images as back in January will be posted daily & we get to see a very alien part of Mercury, never seen before by human eyes.Also I am sure that more giant scarps will be discovered & perhaps more volcanoes???? MESSENGER will pass over the night side @ periherm & the receding Gibbous Mercury will show the rest of the unimaged terrain, as well as a huge swathe of the portion imaged by Mariner 10, but the sun will be illuminating those features including the Weird Terrain (antipodal to the Caloris Basin, due to the focussing of the shock waves from the Caloris Forming Event on the opposite side of the planet) from the opposite direction. The Caloris Basin itself will be in darkness during this encounter (& the third one in September 2009) & therefore will not be imaged. However Caloris was excellently seen during the first pass back in January.The next time we see Caloris will be during the orbital primary mission. Tracking of MESSENGER may also determine if Mercury has a dual layered core like Earth. Second MESSENGER Mercury encounter, Mercury will be the other way around.Countdown to 2nd closest approach: Monday 6th October 2008. 12 Days. 9 Hours. 12 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>

baulten · Sep 24, 2008

I didn't realize it was already so soon!  I can't wait for this encounter.  The only one I'm looking more forward to is New Horizon's <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-wink.gif" border="0" alt="Wink" title="Wink" />

3488 · Sep 24, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>I didn't realize it was already so soon!  I can't wait for this encounter.  The only one I'm looking more forward to is New Horizon's Posted by baulten</DIV>Hi baulten,New Horizons too is certainly breaking new ground & along with the Mars Phoenix Lander & DAWN to asteroids 1 Ceres (dwarf planet) & 4 Vesta, I was personally part of the campaigns to prevent their cancellation. Fortunately MESSENGER never faced that threat, though if she did, I would have gotten involved there too.Remember, that Mercury is one of the closest natural objects to Earth, closer even then Venus & Mars @ times when they are over on the other side of the Sun, yet till January of this year, only 45% of Mercury had been seen in detail & that was back in 1974 by Mariner 10.Mercury was in many ways the Elephant in the Hallway regarding inner solar system research. Both Venus & Mars have had orbiters & landers, Mercury had just three passes & those took place at the same time of the Hermean Year, hense only 45% being seen in detail, by Mariner 10 till January with MESSENGER.MESSENGER revealed a new swathe of Mercury, never seen properly before, as well as providing new information on many features seen before by Mariner 10, under different illumination, multispectrally & resolutions.A mission like MESSENGER is long, long overdue & I for one am delighted to see this mission unfold. Already MESSENGER has given us a huge number of new insights to Mercury & in 11 days time, we get to see most of the rest of 'Hermes Incognita', thus for the first time, we actually get a high resolution global map of Mercury.I will not go into the reasons here as to why this mission is so scientifically important, as both Wayne & myself have covered it before in the First encounter thread.The only real regret I have, is that there is no lander or rover being sent with MESSENGER, but having said that, MESSENGER from Hermeocentric Orbit will image the entire planet, in unprecedented detail with Periherm (closest point to Mercury) over the northern hemisphere, though the fact that navigation has been so spot on so far & the Delta 2 launch so accurate, that there will be extra fuel reserves, that maybe can be used to make the orbit more circular & lower (one can hope), but we will not know till March 2011 until the orbital insertion has been carried out. BTW the encounter in September 2009, is essentialy a repeat of this one. The main difference regarding MESSENGER is that one will be slightly slower & there will be opportunities for targeted observations, based on what is found in 11 days time. This encounter like the one back in January will involve 1,217 MDIS images imaging the entire Sunlit or nearly entire sunlit hemisphere of Mercury, using both the NAC & WAC through differening filters, from the IR through visible to UV. The Magnetometer will measure the magnetosphere, the UV detectors measure the atmosphere (all 8 tons of it<img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-laughing.gif" border="0" alt="Laughing" title="Laughing" />, that is the entire mass of Mercury's atmosphere, so spread out around a large object like that means the surface is essentially exposed to a vacuum) the RADAR will ping through an area S W of the Caloris Basin. The area radar pinged back in January, this time will be imaged in high resolution by MDIS (though it will be close to the sunlit limb highly foreshortened).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 · Sep 24, 2008

Hi baulten, I've changed my mind.I have copied a post from Wayne from the First encounter MESSENGER thread that explains the goals of the mission extremely well. Also Wayne has provided a link to the actual MESSENGER team description.From MeteorWayne,Why Mercury?? The MESSENGER team has a page dedicated to answering this question here To summarize the questions to be answered: Question 1: Why is Mercury so dense? Question 2: What is the geologic history of Mercury? Question 3: What is the nature of Mercury's magnetic field? Question 4: What is the structure of Mercury's core? Question 5: What are the unusual materials at Mercury's poles? Question 6: What volatiles are important at Mercury? For details about the questions, see the page above. MW <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>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>

baulten · Sep 24, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Hi baulten, I've changed my mind.I have copied a post from Wayne from the First encounter MESSENGER thread that explains the goals of the mission extremely well. Also Wayne has provided a link to the actual MESSENGER team description.From MeteorWayne,Why Mercury??The MESSENGER team has a page dedicated to answering this question here To summarize the questions to be answered:Question 1: Why is Mercury so dense?Question 2: What is the geologic history of Mercury?Question 3: What is the nature of Mercury's magnetic field?Question 4: What is the structure of Mercury's core?Question 5: What are the unusual materials at Mercury's poles?Question 6: What volatiles are important at Mercury?For details about the questions, see the page above.MW But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function Andrew Brown. Posted by 3488</DIV>Oh, no, I understand why this mission is so important.  I'm just saying, I think New Horizon's Pluto fly-by is the only thing I'm looking MORE forward to at this point.  But that's far enough away it doesn't interfere with the excitement of Messenger.Isn't Dawn entering orbit around 4 Vesta in 2011 also?

3488 · Sep 25, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Oh, no, I understand why this mission is so important.  I'm just saying, I think New Horizon's Pluto fly-by is the only thing I'm looking MORE forward to at this point.  But that's far enough away it doesn't interfere with the excitement of Messenger.Isn't Dawn entering orbit around 4 Vesta in 2011 also? Posted by baulten</DIV>Hi baulten, I misunderstood you.Yes DAWN will hopefully slip into orbit around 4 Vesta in August 2011.Hi all, Back to Mercury.A little Hermeocentric Astronomy. View of Sun from Mercury @ MESSENGER Periherm. The Sun will appear 1 degree, 33' 22" wide at the time & will be approx nine times more powerful than from Earth @ approx 11.1 KW per square Metre, so some potential for solar power, hense MESSENGER's solar arrays being so small. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/9/6/297abc50-5afc-447d-b68c-15424f43a469.Medium.gif" alt="" />  View of Earth from Mercury @ MESSENGER Periherm.The Earth will be at opposition, i.e directly the opposite side from the Sun as seen from Mercury on this date (Mercury will be in Inferior Solar Conjunction as viewed from Earth @ the same time) .Earth will blaze at magnitude -4.74 in Pisces (slightly brighter than Venus from Earth) & will be bright enough to cast shadows, in the cryonically cold Hermean night. Earth will be southwest of Pegasus & even the Moon approx 7' to the S E, will put in a respectable -0.63 (about the same as Canopus / Alpha Carinae). <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/12/4/ec83a558-e1a6-44bb-a488-d1424fbee82d.Medium.gif" alt="" /> View of Venus from Mercury @ MESSENGER Periherm. Venus literally blazes away @ magnitude -5.16, despite being on the other side of the Sun. Venus from Mercury at the time will be the second brightest object after the Sun. The Earth comes third. The solar system's largest metallic asteroid 16 Psyche is in conjunction (but very much further away, within the Asteroid Belt) with Venus, but well below naked eye visibility.<img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/2/5/6268d36d-cd8d-409c-9593-ba4a942a708b.Medium.gif" alt="" />View of Mars from Mercury @ MESSENGER Periherm.The Red Planet Mars puts on a brave show @ magnitude 0.90. Also the focus of planetary spacecraft: MER A Spirit, MER B  Opportunity, Mars Phoenix Lander, Mars Reconaissance Orbiter, Mars Odyssey & Mars Express. Not long to Solar Conjunction as seen from Mercury.<img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/1/1/517298d1-4333-40bd-a120-62b43b7a6a82.Medium.gif" alt="" />Countdown to 2nd closest approach: Monday 6th October 2008. 10 Days. 10 Hours. 59 Minutes.  30 Seconds.Edited as to include views of Venus & Mars from Mercury @ time of MESSENGER pass. 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 · Sep 29, 2008

I was correct all along, we get to see a truly alien part of Mercury during the approach. I can't wait, the first time EVER that human eyes get to see this area. Not only that, that annoying finger of terrain in the northern hemisphere missed by Mariner 10 gets imaged at long last as MESSENGER recedes.Map of coverage during Second Mercury Encounter. <a href="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Forums/#" title="Click to view a larger photo" onclick="return gSiteLife.LoadForumPage('ForumImage', 'plckPhotoId', 'cb2b0a38-f071-4a7d-b7a3-8520f785c4b4', 'plckRedirectUrl', gSiteLife.EscapeValue(window.location.href));"><img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/11/7/cb2b0a38-f071-4a7d-b7a3-8520f785c4b4.Medium.jpg" alt="" /> </a>Countdown to 2nd closest approach: Monday 6th October 2008.  6 Days. 20 Hours.  15 Minutes.  45 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 · Sep 30, 2008

MESSENGER readied for second encounter with Mercury. MESSENGER Mercury encounter #2 Visualization tool is up.Countdown to 2nd closest approach: Monday 6th October 2008.  5 Days. 19 Hours.  55 Minutes.  15 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 · Sep 30, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>MESSENGER readied for second encounter with Mercury. MESSENGER Mercury encounter #2 Visualization tool is up.Countdown to 2nd closest approach: Monday 6th October 2008. 5 Days. 19 Hours. 55 Minutes. 15 Seconds. Andrew Brown.  Posted by 3488</DIV> NASA is holding a teleconference at 1 PM EDT tomorrow (Wed Oct 1) to discuss the upcoming encounter...scribblenotes to follow. <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 · Sep 30, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>NASA is holding a teleconference at 1 PM EDT tomorrow (Wed Oct 1) to discuss the upcoming encounter...scribblenotes to follow. Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV>Thank you very much for the tip off Wayne. I did not know. I'll have to get my arse home pronto tomorrow then to watch it, as is an hour earlier than the Phoenix Mars Lander conferences.This mission is far too important & interesting to be missing stuff. Countdown to 2nd closest approach: Monday 6th October 2008.  5 Days. 15 Hours.  31 Minutes.  45 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 · Sep 30, 2008

I have been scrolling through the Second encounter visualisation tool & I am particularly looking forward to seeing the following.1). WAC view of approaching looming crescent during final approach. Everything in this view will be new to human eyes. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/3/7/33e3e066-9e55-4f16-a79f-d6352409d316.Medium.gif" alt="" />  2). Fantastic Narrow Angle Camera mosaic of the looming hermean crescent, this time in high res, with the individual frames showing new features in stunning detail. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/4/10/b4826583-5600-4ad9-9a8e-0fe866ccac6b.Medium.gif" alt="" />  3). RADAR Swathe, ending south of the Caloris Basin on the night side. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/4/8/746574ba-b024-4e0b-b83d-10410a2e656a.Medium.gif" alt="" />  <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/15/12/cfe75803-00de-4b4a-bc1d-b4f0ccf09d6a.Medium.gif" alt="" /> 4). WAC view of large gibbous Mercury showing one half of Mariner 10 terrain (left to dawn terminator) & one half newly seen terrain. Hopefully many NAC frames will also be taken of this view to form a large mosaic.. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/9/13/2941ecae-9b2f-4a03-bdf1-e92ade610245.Medium.gif" alt="" />Countdown to 2nd closest approach: Monday 6th October 2008.  5 Days. 12 Hours.  12 Minutes.  12 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 · Sep 30, 2008

Thanx Andrew, I'm sure that is some of what they will cover tomorrow.Just a bump to Dan Muller's real time simulationhttp://www.dmuller.net/realtime/index.php?mission=messengerClose approach sequence has been uploaded, first optical Nav images to be taken late tomorrow. <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 · Sep 30, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Thanx Andrew, I'm sure that is some of what they will cover tomorrow.Just a bump to Dan Muller's real time simulationhttp://www.dmuller.net/realtime/index.php?mission=messengerClose approach sequence has been uploaded, first optical Nav images to be taken late tomorrow. Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV>Thank you Wayne,Great news that the encounter software has been uploaded successfully. I thought it had by the tone of the updates earlier, stating MESSENGER had been readied. Will be interesting to see soon, probably not tomorrow as maybe too far away still (though you never know), but worth checking the northern horn of the approaching crescent Mercury to see if it appears to have a 'thinning' from the terminator. If so, that will be the Skinakas Basin.Even if Skinakas does not exist, this will be a completely new alien surface, never before seen with human eyes. I know that the simulation I posted of the WAC crescent shows features, but they are based on very low resolution Arecibo & Goldstone radar images from Earth, no match what so ever for Mariner 10 & MESSENGER imagery. What Messenger will start showing tomorrow is NEW terrain, NEW features will start popping out.Please be assusred everyone, I intend to keep this thread up to date with images & data as soon as I am able. Thanks Wayne, again. I know like me, you too are awaiting this with much anticipation. These two NAC mosaics are going to be truly awesome, post periherm. I'll add them to the above wish list. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/0/6/10aa9e1b-62f3-4de9-9635-c80011eaf2fa.Medium.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/0/5/a05c6f64-38a4-4b63-a57c-8326717524f4.Medium.gif" alt="" />  #Countdown to 2nd closest approach: Monday 6th October 2008.  5 Days. 10 Hours.  31 Minutes.  15 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 · Oct 1, 2008

Please Wayne, could you scribblenote what is said.It looks like I will not be back in time to watch it. I will be back later on this evening & post graphics, images & my own inane ramblings, but it looks like I'm gonna miss the broadcast.Needless to say, I will try & enhance the first approach crescent to see if there is any hint of the suspected Skinakas Basin or other first to be seen features, though I suspect it is still too early. Tomorrow or Friday will be more likely as MESSENGER will have closed in somewhat more by then.Countdown to 2nd closest approach: Monday 6th October 2008.  4 Days. 19 Hours.  45 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 · Oct 1, 2008

Great teleconference with great graphics. One of more useful hours spent on a teleconference, since they always aren't very enlighteningscribblenotes:Goal is a 200 km pass above the surface. DSM 3 (Deep Space Maneuver) put it within 170 km of that location, but the 95% ellipse included possible impact with the surface so further adjustment was required. Either Andrew will post that graphic or I will add it later. The red ellipse is the post DSM3 ellipse, the one in the lower right shows the 1 km accuracy. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/4/10/147a581a-fb9b-42c4-bae5-0d32c89b0c98.Medium.jpg" alt="" />This is very cool! Instead of spending more of the limited on board propellant, they used a new techhnique called solar sailing using the solar wind to shift the orbit of the spacecraft. As a result, without using any propellant, the craft will now pass within 1 kilometer of it's target location. All three post DSM 3 maneuvers have not been needed saving a lot of propellant. Later in the mission, this leaves more for contingencies and can extend the length of the mission. Fantastic! It has been over 6 months since the last propulsive maneuver, yet they will hit the target with 1 km.Solar sailing image: <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/13/8/9dddb81d-8773-44f1-88f4-cb712bb85153.Medium.jpg" alt="" />Pass will be 200 km above the nightside surface at a relative speed of 15,000 mph. There is a 17 minute eclipse shortly after CA (Close Approach) when it will still be taking observations usiing the batteries.It will be ~ 21 hours after close approach before the craft will be aligned to point at earth so the first data will come down during the wee hours of Tuesday the 7th EDT. Until then there will be no indication of success.As shown in an image either Andrew or I will post, about 30% of the surface previously unseen will be imaged bring it up to 95% that we have seen. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/2/7/42e969e9-4b47-451f-8735-8f788f1bc7a4.Medium.jpg" alt="" />One mosaic will cover new surface in 197 images at 100-300 meters per pixel.The 5th mosaic will cover 100% of the illuminated surface at 500 m/pixelMost of the surface will be imaged with the UV and 2 IR channels the same as the Caloris basin was on flyby 1.The new coverage will also extend the area at low sun elevations allowing topographic relief to be shown.Next set of images shows magnetic measurements, Mariner and the 1st Messenger flyby covered the eastern hemisphere, this will measure the western hemisphere which will enlighten us about the symmetry and structure of the magnetic field, further refining models for it's generation. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/10/7/aa0850d8-81a5-4f4a-b793-32328f9b00fd.Medium.jpg" alt="" />New Software will allow higher angular resolution of plasma ion measurements.Altimetry in next image, for first time visual and altimetry measurements will be able to be colocated. both from this pass alone, and with imaging from this flyby showing the territory where the laser made measurements on the nightside on the previous flyby. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/13/13/1d1f19d5-d564-43ea-adeb-1f8129a86a7d.Medium.jpg" alt="" />First far Ultraviolet measurements (< 400 nm)Q: Do you expect the new 30% to be different?A: Who knows, we look for surprises. Are there ather large impact basins? Are there volcanos elsewhere? Are there other extensional features? We shall see.There's a flyby movie on the website giving timeline (MW-I'll add alink when I have time to find it)Observations for CA extend from 10 hours prior to about 20 hours afterward.Another compliment to solar sailing team. Not only did it save propellent, but allowed unprecedented precision in hitting the flyby target (MW- This might save even more later on)Flyby Timeline:http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/encountersm2/There should be a good look at Caloris antipodal point, although sun will be a little high 30-45 degrees) This is in a response to a very good question from our friend Emily Lakdawalla. So far it has looked a little different either from shock wave focusing or debris from the Caloris impact preferentially landing there.Expect to see typo editing in the next few minutes. Meteor WayneThat's it for now, I might add more later, and will try and add the images if Andrew already hasn't yet.  <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 · Oct 1, 2008

Sorry Andrew, I just couldn't wait to add the images. Please forgive me. 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 · Oct 1, 2008

Thank you so very much Wayne, Excellent notes indeed. Shame I could not watch the press conference as I had to work late today, but I just knew your notes would tell me everything of interest & I'm not disappointed <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/3/10/03d2a9bd-2e06-4beb-aa7f-0892fee627fd.Medium.gif" alt="" />. The solar sailing technique, what an enormous bonus. I am thrilled with that Wayne, propellent saved means a potentially longer & more scientifically rich mission at Mercury, i.e perhaps a lower more circular orbit, or lower Periherm & Apoherm than would otherwise have been possible. That is really tremendously good news indeed. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/12/4/9c0fd98c-b82a-433a-a414-d51480c8c971.Medium.gif" alt="" />Talking of solar sailing, this has been posted from the earlier conference.Attitude of MESSENGER during Solar Sailing. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/15/13/8f8b1814-aba0-4354-bdf1-f2dc7984b4da.Medium.jpg" alt="" /> Navigation Keyholes, with & without Solar Sailing. It clearly worked very well. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/4/13/b4a3acbe-5c48-42ab-adfe-f5fb654804d2.Medium.jpg" alt="" />  Mercury Approach crescent as seen by Mariner 10. During the first ever spacecraft encounter with the First Rock from the Sun.  MESSENGER during the outbound phase post Periherm, will image the darkend side immediately to the right of the crescent seen here. This will be the first time ever, that area has been seen by human eyes. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/5/6/95473ecd-de47-4bcc-a6fc-616c46f3213f.Medium.jpg" alt="" />  Map showing coverage from Mariner 10, MESSENGER encounter # 1 & pink areas to be imaged this time. Only two very narrow strips & tiny areas in the polar areas will remain unimaged. Approx 95% of Mercury will be imaged. It is worth mentioning that on Mercury encounter # 3 on Tuesday 29th September 2009, even those two narrow strips will be filled in, taking coverage from 95% to 99%. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/6/8/369f4bef-5e83-491e-a867-741720490973.Medium.jpg" alt="" /> Highest resolution planned mosaic post Periherm. Images will have a resolution from  100  to 300 metres per pixel. The very sharpest images (100 metres per pixel) will be centred on latitude 1 degree 15' South as this will be the best view of this area during the entire mission, orbital mission included. The white crescent on right is the current unimaged portion, the part showing features imaged by Mariner 10, but the Sun will be shining from the opposite direction. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/15/1/af89515e-f89c-4755-9106-3b2b962934d6.Medium.jpg" alt="" />Will be back with more.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 · Oct 1, 2008

Thank you very much Wayne. I was late in today, so it was only fair that you stepped in with the images also.Some more of my inane ramblings <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/9/15/e948db28-8ef6-4a13-afc4-229fd89babc9.Medium.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/15/8/3fe8f7de-5712-4647-b8f4-f14d0b8a95b7.Medium.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/8/11/28831171-8f95-49d1-abca-0218b7ff92e6.Medium.gif" alt="" />!!!! <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/15/8/4f231f75-6241-4234-8892-35aea4672bad.Medium.gif" alt="" />Image mosaic approx 75 minutes post Periherm. This mosaic will have a more even resolution than the previous one @ 500 metres per pixel. Whilst these images will not be nearly as good as Mariner 10's best, they will give a complete sharp mosaic of Mercury from that particular viewpoint. The white crescent on right is the current inimaged portion, the part showing features imaged by Mariner 10, but the Sun will be shining from the opposite direction. The Caloris Antipodal region Wierd Terrain is to the lower right of centre, just in from the boundary of the Mariner 10 imaged & to be newly imaged terrain. This was where the siesmic waves from the Caloris impact focused & crumpled up the surface. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/2/1/0249314b-3118-4661-81f7-10900a7a2354.Medium.jpg" alt="" />Enhanced colour of the Caloris Basin & surrounding terrain taken during the First MESSENGER encounter in January 2008. Images taken during that pass & from Mariner 10 will be used in conjunction with the new images to be taken to build up the first global map of Mercury in high resolution ever. Also the minerology detected through the mutlispectral channels will also lead to the first reasonably good global mineral map of Mercury.These will enable mapping of geological, well being Mercury, hermeological processes, such as, how much of Mercury has been modified by impact cratering, volcanoes, lava plains, a greater coverage of impact crater sizes & the proportion of different crater size units? This can be compared with Mars, The Moon, Ganymede, Callisto, Saturn Moons, Uranus Moons, etc, helping to map out the cratering history of the solar system. The DAWN spacecraft will do like wise with 1 Ceres & 4 Vesta, New Horizons with Pluto & Charon. This encounter is not only about Mercury, it is also about a far greater understanding of the history & current state & possible future evolution of our entire Solar System. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/3/9/4393d4ee-3801-475e-9950-b5cb7069cd1b.Medium.jpg" alt="" /> 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>

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