MESSENGER Mercury Updates.

MeteorWayne · Oct 10, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Mercury through time.How impact craters degrade over time. This area was imaged by Mariner 10 previously but the sun was shining from the opposite direction then.Andrew Brown. Posted by 3488</DIV> Just to be clear, the intention is to show craters of 3 different ages, not to suggest that there have been any changes since Mariner 10 and 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>

halcyondays · Oct 10, 2008

In the enlargement of the excellent Vivaldi crater image, you can see, in the centre ring, the shadows of the peaks on the right hand side.  The sun is obviously very low indeed.  My question is that there appears to be a piece of shadow broadly at right angles to the peaks painted by the main shadows.  Do you see what I am saying ? What could that feature be ?   Not an arch, I assume, as no erosion on Mercury..... ???  Thanks. 

MeteorWayne · Oct 10, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>In the enlargement of the excellent Vivaldi crater image, you can see, in the centre ring, the shadows of the peaks on the right hand side.  The sun is obviously very low indeed.  My question is that there appears to be a piece of shadow broadly at right angles to the peaks painted by the main shadows.  Do you see what I am saying ? What could that feature be ?   Not an arch, I assume, as no erosion on Mercury..... ???  Thanks.  Posted by halcyondays</DIV> That appears to be a small ridge in the crater floor. It is one of many unique things about Hermean Geology, that these ridges (I think there's another word being used, but ridge is more or less correct) pass through craters. <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 10, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Just to be clear, the intention is to show craters of 3 different ages, not to suggest that there have been any changes since Mariner 10 and MESSENGER. Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV>Thanks Wayne, Again I did not make myself very clear. You knew what I meant & I knew what I meant, but many others maybe not. That was what I meant, the three craters of different ages & therefore different levels of preservation / degradation. Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>That appears to be a small ridge in the crater floor. It is one of many unique things about Hermean Geology, that these ridges (I think there's another word being used, but ridge is more or less correct) pass through craters. Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV>That is very true Wayne. There is indeed a small ridge in the crater floor & that will affect the shape of the shadows. Many ridges on Mercury  are either called scarps or rupes, but really they are ridges & / or cliffs. The uneven floor of Vivaldi will also affect shadows from the rim.Hi all,I've has a go at cropping & enlargening the crack, in the terrain that Mariner 10 narrowly missed. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/13/3/9d8a5289-f688-47d3-a3d8-6c74dbc80743.Medium.jpg" alt="" />  Also I cropped the horizon with a foreshortened crater. Looks a little bit like the famous Lunar Orbiter 3 shot of the Copernicus Crater on the Moon. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/6/5/06a607d9-a049-4226-a563-fa8603346695.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>

3488 · Oct 11, 2008

A new look at old terrain. How differing illumination makes a huge difference. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/1/9/81fc23fd-a9ef-4ad0-b9b9-cfa098bc76af.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>

3488 · Oct 11, 2008

Crop & enlargement of the 150 KM wide crater at dawn from the image above.Note how the shadows point westward across the crater floor as with the image of Vivaldi. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/0/2/50f4da1c-ffe8-4d00-b269-e36473b724b6.Medium.jpg" alt="" />Another go here, which I think is better. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/14/11/3ed30b5d-0274-4f63-aba2-7457639530b1.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>

3488 · Oct 12, 2008

Dark Rays on Mercury.Small crater, approx 10 - 15 KM diameter on newly imaged terrain on periherm part of encounter, with strange almost lobart dark rays. Below my enlargement & crop of said crater with dark rays. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/7/6/87288209-1750-475d-96eb-2179168cc4a1.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>

efron_24 · Oct 13, 2008

The white rays...  1. Why do we not see them on the moon like that... ???with less gravity, should not we see the same.. or are all moon craters ancient ? 2.I think I know the answer... but stillcould rays like that be made on Earth (once) .. or does the atmosphere prevent that from happening (material can't travel that far) ..   <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

3488 · Oct 13, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>The white rays...  1. Why do we not see them on the moon like that... ???with less gravity, should not we see the same.. or are all moon craters ancient ? 2.I think I know the answer... but stillcould rays like that be made on Earth (once) .. or does the atmosphere prevent that from happening (material can't travel that far) ..   Posted by efron_24</DIV>Hi Chris, I will answer you later when I have more time.Hi all, quick chime in.What a difference a week makes. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/7/11/773ea04b-1cb6-438e-bb43-e4531578bb83.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>

MeteorWayne · Oct 13, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>The white rays...  1. Why do we not see them on the moon like that... ???with less gravity, should not we see the same.. or are all moon craters ancient ? 2.I think I know the answer... but stillcould rays like that be made on Earth (once) .. or does the atmosphere prevent that from happening (material can't travel that far) ..   Posted by efron_24</DIV> Well, we do see long rays on the moon as well, though they do not currently appear as long. However, the lunar environment is a bit different. It also appears that the subsurface layer on Mercury is much "whiter" relative to the surface than on the moon. That may be because the weathered surface is darker on Mercury, though I will have to look for albedo measurements.Another factor could be the much higher impact velocity for asteroids (and comets) hitting Mercury. Just using back of the envelope calculations compare speeds:Earth moon Avg orbital vel 30 km/sec. Max speed of object orbiting the sun at earths orbit 41 km/sec. Therefore max impact speed ~ 71 km/secMercury ~ 50 orbital speed, Max object speed ~ 80. Max combined speed 130 km/sec. An impact at that speed will have 4 times the energy of a lunar impact.Those are just rough calculations, I'll have to do some real math later to come up with better numbers.As for earth, such ejecta rays might form at the impact, but as you pinted out, the atmosphere would not only attenuate the distance, but most likely vaporize the smaller material from friction. Not an experimant I'd like to try BTW

<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>

efron_24 · Oct 13, 2008

Thank you !! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

MeteorWayne · Oct 13, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Thank you !! Posted by efron_24</DIV> Glad to throw some ideas out there. I'm just working off the top of my head...great question, BTW.I would expect that future MESSENGER measurements, especially after orbital insertion will help inform us more about both the dark and the light surface. It might indicate what materials explain the high contrast. That's what we are going there for!! <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 13, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Glad to throw some ideas out there. I'm just working off the top of my head...great question, BTW.I would expect that future MESSENGER measurements, especially after orbital insertion will help inform us more about both the dark and the light surface. It might indicate what materials explain the high contrast. That's what we are going there for!! Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV>Cheers Wayne.I was a bit too busy to answer Chris earlier.Also according to your figures, it is worth metioning regarding ejecta & rays is that Mercury surface gravity has 37.7 % of Earth's surface gravity. Our Moon has 16.7%. Therefore Mercury has a shade over twice that of our Moon's & IIRC, twice the gravity, requires FOUR times as much energy to achieve the same result so looking at that, it figures. If impactors hit Mercury four times faster than impactors on the Moon with twice lunar surface gravity, then the ejecta blankets & rays will be of similar sizes, but will look smaller on Mercury, due to Mercury being 40% wider than our Moon. Hope I've got that right Wayne.Also I think we can rely on the fact that once orbital insertion has been achieved, the mapping of dark & bright rays will be mapped. Already there is enough data to make a serious start on that.  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 14, 2008

Quite a few updates today.Astrolabe Rupes. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/10/8/8acc7d8c-fb30-4005-a8a8-83f8609ff7bb.Medium.jpg" alt="" />  Changing Stripes Mariner 10 & MESSENGER. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/9/0/394012a9-c17e-4986-9061-e39947e8e362.Medium.jpg" alt="" />  Small northern bright crater inbound on newly seen terrain. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/13/5/4d77fe34-d66f-44e7-b5a5-ec573db99626.Medium.jpg" alt="" />  118 KM wide Thākur Crater in colour. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/5/10/65011723-b745-4412-8ad7-b16af1c74834.Medium.jpg" alt="" />  Mercury outbound in colour. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/1/13/21f050f7-134a-4125-ad0f-d68f04dd724c.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>

MeteorWayne · Oct 15, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Quite a few updates today.Astrolabe Rupes.  Changing Stripes Mariner 10 & MESSENGER.  Small northern bright crater inbound on newly seen terrain.  118 KM wide Thākur Crater in colour.  Mercury outbound in colour.  Andrew Brown.  Posted by 3488</DIV> Great stuff as usual Andrew!BTW, I ran across the answers to my calculations, and I didn't even have to do the math myself. Ran across it in Peter Jenniskens' "Meteor Showers and Their Parent Comets."For an asteroid or comet approaching Mercury:Speed from Mercury's gravity 4.25 km/sec.Since it spins so slowly, the contribution from rotation is negligible.Speed from Sun's gravity 61.7-76.0 km/sec. (aphelion-perihelion--remember Mercury's orbit is very elliptical so the acceleration from the sun varies a lot; this also affects the orbital speed)Orbital speed of Mercury 38.9-59.0 km/ sec. (perihelion-aphelion)Therefore impact speed would vary from 4.3 to 135.0 km/sec. My rough calculations weren't too bad!  <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 15, 2008

Thanks Wayne,My figures were more or less correct also. To double the effects of an impact requires four times as much energy.Just done this. Shows differing illumination very well.Mariner 10 clearly saw the larger shallower crater the Kuiper is partially embedded, but MESSENGER did not, but MESSENGER shows the internal terracing & central peak much better than Mariner 10.http://my1.photodump.com/uploads/3488/5a9f23b34a862f1a.bmp62 KM Kuiper Crater, Mariner 10 & MESSENGER.http://www.photodump.com/3488/5a9f23b34a862f1a.bmp.html <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/3/13/c36ec5e4-26b9-4b53-ad93-eda10ae5e930.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>

3488 · Oct 16, 2008

MESSENGER reached Perihelion this morning.MESSENGER reached Perihelion, also the closest point to the Sun during the entire mission. MESSENGER will never pass quite this close to the Sun ever again. MESSENGER's heliocentric velocity crept up to 226,689 KPH / 140,880 MPH (62.979 KPS /  39.110 MPS) or the distance from the Earth to the Moon in just 1 Hour & 40 Minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!View of Sun from MESSENGER @ Perihelion this morning @ 09:00 HRS UTC .Sun appeared 1 degree & 42' wide & MESSENGER was receiving 14.375 KW per square metre of solar energy, or very nearly 11 times the strength of solar energy from Earth orbit, or 1 AU from the star Procyon / Alpha Canis Minoris. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/9/12/e9b1d06d-7297-4aaa-bc05-1e82e34ab1af.Medium.jpg" alt="" />  710 KM wide area north of Kuiper Crater. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/5/6/459ce6e9-9f9a-4b45-b614-494368b84b97.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>

3488 · Oct 17, 2008

Mercury, shows signs of aging.Somewhat older terrain is visible here, inbound. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/9/4/f9f4876e-3b45-4754-845d-4f4929d47b53.Medium.png" 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>

MeteorWayne · Oct 17, 2008

Slightly Off Topic, but it's rather nice to see from here what MESSENGER is imaging close up (Thanx Joe): http://www.space.com/spacewatch/081017-ns-mercury.htmlMercury in the morning Mercury will be at its greatest western elongation, 18 degrees to the west of the sun, on Oct. 22, rising as dawn breaks. Mercury, like Venus, appears to go through phases like the moon. Shortly after passing inferior conjunction on Oct. 6, Mercury was just a slender crescent. Currently, it appears about one-third illuminated, but the amount of its surface illuminated by the sun will continue to increase in the days to come. So although it will begin to turn back toward the sun's vicinity after Oct. 22, it will continue to brighten steadily, which should help keep it in easy view over the following couple of weeks. Rendezvous with the moon and a starHelping to aid in identifying Mercury will be a lovely crescent moon. Early on the morning of Oct. 26, at about an hour before sunrise, you'll find the moon low in the east-southeast sky and Mercury will appear as a bright star-like object well below and to the moon's left. On the following morning (Oct. 27), it will be just a delicately thin sliver, and only about 38 hours from new phase, hovering well off to the lower right of Mercury. Then during the mornings of Oct. 30 and 31, Mercury will slide above and to the left of the bright blue star, Spica, in the constellation of Virgo.The speedy planet will still be easily visible as late as Nov. 5; though appearing nearer to the sun's vicinity in the sky, it will have brightened to magnitude -0.9. That's brighter than the star Canopus and second in brightness to Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky. Thereafter, it drops back down to invisibility, under the dawn horizon. <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 18, 2008

I saw brilliant Mercury at 6:10 AM this morning (Mag +0.0) just above the horizon after a breezy and cool morning of meteor watching. (7 meteors, 4 were Orionids in 2.5 hours). Creamy Saturn rose a few hours earlier next to the dome of the observatory below Leo. <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 18, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>I saw brilliant Mercury at 6:10 AM this morning (Mag +0.0) just above the horizon after a breezy and cool morning of meteor watching. (7 meteors, 4 were Orionids in 2.5 hours). Creamy Saturn rose a few hours earlier next to the dome of the observatory below Leo. Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV>Thanks Wayne.I've recreated what you saw (sort of) below. I too will be out tonight. Being 10 degrees further north than yourself, Mercury will be rather low. Perhaps a trip down to the Canary Islands is in order, 27 N?????????<img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/12/2/3ce7223c-34c9-4b54-92d3-4cde484df6f0.Medium.gif" alt="" /> Mercury & Saturn predawn High Bridge, New Jersey, USA. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/4/7/f452ea0f-1d7c-4e8d-9758-875dfe713edb.Medium.gif" 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>

anthmartian · Oct 18, 2008

Hi all.Having quite severe computer problems right now, so i have not been around to read and input into this topic as i would have liked. However, what i have seen has been fascinating and exciting. So, thank you all involed.I have seen Mercury a few times now, both naked eye, and through my telescope. Seeing Mercury puts you in an elite club. I am sure i heard once less than 5% of the worlds population have seen it in the evening or dawn skies. Many astronomers myself included are a little reluctant to point people in the direction of Mercury without supervision, especially for telescope or binocular viewing with it being close to the sun in the sky. So, if you are planning to view it, please take care when swinging a telescope or bino's around. Here is an image i recently placed on my site. I approximated the "fake" colour seen in this picture, and did the odd tweak to on this Messenger B&W release date october 17th. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/2/10/422f893d-07e3-499d-9aa6-2516ae1b19ca.Medium.jpg" alt="" /> I have full res version on my site ( link below )  <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 · Oct 19, 2008

Thank you very much Anthmartian.Hope you are both settling in ok in your new home.I think the colouring of your image is pretty close to how it really is, maybe a little greyer, but that tan hue does look quite accurate.You are correct, this mission is one of the all time NASA greats during the entire history of planetary exploration, alongside Mariner 10, Voyager, Viking, MERs, Galileo, Cassini, MO, MRO & Phoenix.Finally we have seen the vast majority of Mercury, with only 4.3% left unimaged & even that figure will reduce to about 2% next September when MESSENGER makes the final pre arrival encounter (Mercury will orientated very similar to this pass, but will have rotated a few extra degrees to the east, thus a narrow strip remaining unimaged will be imaged during the approach).Also uou are correct with how few people, even Astronomers have actually seen Mercury. I have seen Mercury many times, but then I know where to look & make the effort to go & look. From Britain & elsewhere at higher latitudes Mercury is not the easiest to see, as elongation does not translate very well into altitude above the horizon, as from here the ecliptic generally is at a shallow angle, apart from the equinoxes, hense the fairly good showing now in the mornings. Much better from the Canary Islands, southern USA, southern Asia, tropics, etc. Crop of rille /scarp inbound on newly imaged terrain. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/3/14/43ec8edd-8e1b-4d59-aeee-afd005df3faf.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>

MeteorWayne · Oct 19, 2008

As long as I've been into astronomy, it has been less than a year since my first view of Mercury, that was with a specific effort. This one was a surprise...I just havene't paid much attention with my focus on meteorics. As I said, when I head up to the observatory, I take the back road dodging deer, raccoons and possum. But when I leave I take a road that heads down the hill with a perfect view of the eastern sky. It's quite a steep slope, so I can actually see below the local horizon. I'll often pause near the bottom to look at a thin crescent moon. Between the "one with the Universe" feeling I get spending hours watching the sky turn above me (I know we are the ones moving, but that's how it has always looked to people on our terra firma), those early morning views of the eastern sky are some of most satisfying.Ah but my poetic waxing (and Wayneing in this case) are diverting this thread from the Herean focus, so back to the task at hand.

<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>

anthmartian · Oct 19, 2008

Thanks Andrew.We are settling in very nicely. The biggest challenge is trying to turn a blind eye to a never ending list of D.I.Y! lolHopefully, thanks to some ebay purchases i should be back up and running 100% computer wise, this week.I tried to get that colour right, i may have over done it. It was done on a laptop, and i know i can get variations depending on the angle of the screen. It is a wonderful image to work with though as your crop underlines.As for observing Mercury, i was never able to confirm it, but i did look after the astronomical societies 8" reflector for a while, i am convinced i saw surface detail on mercury. Some years later i bought an excellent book for telescope astronomy called "The Planet Observers hand book" which did seem to bear out what i saw and make it seem likely.Like i say though it can be quite dangerous to observe mercury, make good use of the times when it appears a long way away from the sun and is still up after dark.The Canary islands are fantastic as you say Andrew for viewing Mercury, I was blown away by how high the planet was in the sky from that latitude. We forget how far north we are in the U.K. sometimes. <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>

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