MESSENGER Mercury Updates.

[jmilsom]

Good Morning from Australia. I see you've all had an exciting evening. I look forward to hearing some of the preliminary findings. You should now make a countdown to image release Andrew! Can't wait!!! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[3488]

************GREAT NEWS************** <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /><br /><br />MESSENGER Beacon since close encounter have been confirmed.<br /><br />MESSENGER appears to be in excellent health & the instruments are continuing <br />gathering data. <br /><br />All appears to have gone extremely well. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /><br /><br />The first images will be downloaded after noon tomorrow EST / 5:00 PM UT.<br /><br />Keep an eye on the MESSENGER late tomorrow, we may see some images then.<br /><br />The first encounter data prior to MESSENGER turning has been received successfully. <br /><br />Link here.<br /><br />MESSENGER now 84,293 KM from Mercury. <br /><br />Mercury is a 83% gibbous. <br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"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".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

Good morning jmilsom.<br /><br />The Press Conference is on the 30th. Having said that, I would expect images to appear <br />as soon as they become available, but with no official captions, etc.<br /><br />As long as the time & distance is revealed, it will not be difficult to figure out <br />what we are looking at.<br /><br />The entire download, images & non imaging data is expected to take about a week.<br /><br />MESSENGER now 86,046 KM from Mercury. <br /><br />Mercury is a 83% gibbous. <br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"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".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Rats, put this in the wrong thread..<br /><br />"Initial indications from the radio signals indicate the spacecraft is still operating nominally. The first science data return from the flyby was received today, just minutes before the closest approach point with the planet, as planned. <br /><br />“The engineers and operators at the Deep Space Network (DSN) in Goldstone, Calif., in conjunction with engineers at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Md., pulled off a tremendous feat, acquiring and locking onto the downlink signal from the spacecraft within seconds, providing the necessary Doppler measurements for the Radio Science team†said MESSENGER Mission Systems Engineer Eric Finnegan, of APL.“ The spacecraft is continuing to collect imagery and other scientific measurements from the planet as we now depart Mercury from the illuminated side, documenting for the first time the previously unseen surface of the planet.â€<br /><br />" <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

Don't get too excited everyone.<br /><br />More approach imagery, very nice, but no primary science material yet.<br /><br />Approach Images montage.<br /><br />Approach Movie.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"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".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Just to avoid confusion, this is a movies of the approach snapshots from 4 to 1 day before closest approach. On the chart here, these are the "Approach Navigation Images.<br /><br />One item that will come out in the next few days/weeks is a continuous approach movie taken for nearly 24 hours leading up to the encounter observations; most likely hundreds of images or more.<br /><br />After the encounter, a departure movie was also taken. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[Philotas]

Another mystery that MESSENGER <font color="yellow">might</font>help us to solve, is that of the Vulcanoid asteroids, as mentioned in the latest SDC article. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

I guess the year 2000 efforts gathered no confirming evidence, since I've never heard of such.<br /><br />Personally I'm skeptical that a population of small objects can exist in low eccentricity orbits inside of Mercury. It's too darn hot for any to last for long. Even rock melts. Also, the solar wind and solar radiation would have huge effects on the orbits any low mass objects that reside there. The lifetime of a stable orbit would be very short, and since there's no mechanism to resupply the area with new objects, if any ever did exist, they would have been moved to orbits that would intersect the sun.<br />sizzle........<br /><br />However, it's a good thing that MESSENGER will look. We can always learn new things, and my opinions have occasionally been wrong <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[bearack]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>Personally I'm skeptical that a population of small objects can exist in low eccentricity orbits inside of Mercury. It's too darn hot for any to last for long. Even rock melts. Also, the solar wind and solar radiation would have huge effects on the orbits any low mass objects that reside there. The lifetime of a stable orbit would be very short, and since there's no mechanism to resupply the area with new objects, if any ever did exist, they would have been moved to orbits that would intersect the sun. <br />sizzle........ <p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />But, then there appears to be water ice in the polar regions, so anything is possible, right?<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><br /><img id="06322a8d-f18d-4ab1-8ea7-150275a4cb53" src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/6/14/06322a8d-f18d-4ab1-8ea7-150275a4cb53.Large.jpg" alt="blog post photo" /></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

No, there are justifiable reasons to suspect that ice could exist in polar craters. It's not irrefutable, so it is one of the priorities of the MESSENGER mission to look and see!<br /><br />However, as I said, I don't believe stable orbits can exist for low mass objects inside Mercury's.<br /><br />Meteor Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[brellis]

Emily Lakdawalla made this post this morning at UMSF:<br /><br /><font color="yellow">I've just heard that MESSENGER may not get its expected 70-meter time today because of an anomaly going on with another spacecraft -- so we may have to try to exert a bit of patience (and restraint of our desire to wring exciting new science out of optical navigation images) before we see anything new.<br /><br />Also, remember that if anything new comes down today, it will only be approach stuff; they don't expect departure stuff until at least tomorrow. But with the DSN schedule going haywire it's anybody's guess when the pictures we want will actually start hitting the ground.<br /><br />--Emily</font>/safety_wrapper> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#ff0000"><em><strong>I'm a recovering optimist - things could be better.</strong></em></font> </p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Wonder what the other spacecraft is? Thanx for the update. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

Hi MeteorWayne,<br /><br />Thank you for clearing up any confusion that I may have caused.<br /><br />Yes I forgot to mention that there are TWO approach movies.<br /><br />The second one within the final 24 hours of approach will be spectacular. As you said,<br />that will be made up of several hundred images. The departure movie will also be <br />interesting as it will contain the previously unimaged hemisphere.<br /><br />I had heard of the notion of MESSENGER being used to search for Vulcanoid asteroids.<br /><br />I too doubt their existence. <br /><br />1). As already mentioned, over geological<br />time periods, the orbits are unstable.<br /><br />2). The strength of solar radiation & the solar wind will effect their orbits.<br /><br />3). Any loose serface material caused by impacts will be driven off by said solar wind, thus<br />over immense time, the asteroid is eroded.<br /><br />What MESSNEGER may be able to help with, is the detection of Kreutz comets &<br />asteroids with small perihelia like 1566 Icarus & 3200 Pheathon.<br /><br />But vulcanoids, I doubt it very much.<br /><br />Also the ice in Mercury's polar craters is not a given fact. Whilst there is some evidence pointing <br />that way, particularly Arecibo radar returns, it is not proven.<br /><br />MESSENGER will show us for sure.<br /><br />Hopefully, we will not have to wait long for the first science results from yesterday's <br />encounter.<br /><br />By now MESSENGER should have turned the High Gain Antanna towards Earth & started to<br />download.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"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".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[jsmoody]

From the Messenger website:<br /><br />"During MESSENGER's closest pass by Mercury yesterday, January 14, 2008, extensive scientific observations were executed. Today, the last of these planned observations will be completed, and at noon EST, the spacecraft will begin to transmit the data gathered during the flyby to Earth. This exciting new dataset will be used to address fundamental questions about the origin and evolution of the planet Mercury and our solar system. Currently, the MESSENGER team is anxiously awaiting the arrival of this dataset." <br /><br />So....it might be a while before any of that is made public. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> No amount of belief makes something a fact" - James Randi </div>

 

[gregoire]

Rumour has it that it's Ulysses that declared an anomoly.

 

[MeteorWayne]

Thanx for that info.<br /><br />That would be a real shame if there's problem just as the solar cycle is reversing field directions.<br />But that's off topic for this thread.<br />Or maybe not, MESSENGER will be examining the close in solar environment (where Mercury lives) so could prove to be an invaluable tool.... <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[brellis]

Here's NASA's Jan. 14 update on Ulysses - events occurring in the same general direction as our MESSENGER <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />Perhaps they need extra DSN time for data relay from a healthy but older/slower Ulysses, knowing they have MESSENGER's info safely stowed away today for more rapid uploading in the coming days. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#ff0000"><em><strong>I'm a recovering optimist - things could be better.</strong></em></font> </p> </div>

 

[Philotas]

I just found this awesome Earht-flyby movie; will the mercury movie be equally good?<br /><br />http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/the_mission/flyby_movie.html <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[3488]

Hi Philotas,<br /><br />The Mercury movies will be at least as good as that fantastic Earth one.<br /><br />Remember MESSENGER's intruments are optimized for Mercury. When & at this rate if<br />we get to see the encounter material, it will be most amazing.<br /><br />Also worth remembering, the outgoing Mercury movies will include unimaged terrain.<br /><br />If we get to see it, it will be amazing.<br /><br />Does anyone know if MESSENGER has at least turned the high gain antenna towards Earth?<br /><br />There is nothing new on the website & I've tried phoning JHU, but keep getting an <br />answering message.<br /><br />I will try again later.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"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".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Also worth mentioning, MESSENGER got within 200 km of the surface of Mercury.<br /><br />If the same craft had tried that at earth, it's likely it would have made a nice meteor <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />MW <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

Thats very true Meteorwayne.<br /><br />I had not thought of that, but that low over Earth & at that speed, yes MESSENGER would <br />have met a fiery end!!!! One hell of a Meteor.<br /><br />I am glad however MESSENGER did not meet that fate. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /><br /><br />Just spoken to Dr Ralph McNutt, the joint P.I. for the MESSENGER mission. Looks like <br />some new material is only a few hours away. <br /><br />The 'traffic' hold up @ the DSN is clearing. <br /><br />MESSENGER is back on HGA & is in perfect health. The encounter was flawless.<br /><br />Also raised my concern regarding MESSENGER's relative proximity to the Sun & data storage on<br />board.<br /><br />I was assured that the Sun is extremely quiet right now (very true) & that MESSENGER has <br />already been slightly closer with no side effects what so ever.<br /><br />You cannot imagine the beaming smile on my face, with this news. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <br /><br />I will be checking in tommorow needless to say.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"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".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[brellis]

Side note regarding DSN - another update from Emily Lakdawalla on UMSF:<br /><font color="yellow"><br />I've been told that on top of the Ulysses anomaly, both Mars Express and Dawn have gone in to safe mode.<br /><br />--Emily<br /></font><br />Yikes! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#ff0000"><em><strong>I'm a recovering optimist - things could be better.</strong></em></font> </p> </div>

 

[summoner]

Dang, what's going on out there alien gremlins? <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:271px;background-color:#FFF;border:1pxsolid#999"><tr><td colspan="2"><div style="height:35px"><img src="http://banners.wunderground.com/weathersticker/htmlSticker1/language/www/US/MT/Three_Forks.gif" alt="" height="35" width="271" style="border:0px" /></div>

 

[3488]

MESSENGER images on their way.<br /><br />Canberra, Australia will be receiving them shortly. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /><br /><br />Confirmation of MESSENGER executing all commands, pointing, etc correctly. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /><br /><br />I hope DAWN is sorted out shortly though. Wonder why DAWN has gone into safing? <br /><br />Probably & hopefully nothing more than a cosmic ray event.<br /><br />I think at the moment the MESSENGER data takes priority. DAWN is at least safe, not lost & has <br />nothing to do for a while.<br /><br />I understand that the image taken on 20:17 UT, (which shows Mercury just larger than a single WAC<br />frame, or a resolution of 5KM, if the download is <br />limited to one image.<br /><br />Mercury 1 encounter visualization tool image. Link from Planetary Society.<br /><br />I suggested this one to Emily Lakdawalla (just e-mailed) & Dr Ralph McNutt that if a <br />mosaic could be sent, 20:42 UT NAC Mosaic.<br /><br />Does not contain too many frames.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"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".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[jsmoody]

First image of it's previously unseen side:<br /><br />Photo<br /><br />Click on the image to enlarge it. Awesome! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> No amount of belief makes something a fact" - James Randi </div>