MESSENGER Mercury Updates.

[silylene old]

Some of the craters in that photo are very highly reflective. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature" align="center"><em><font color="#0000ff">- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -</font></em> </div><div class="Discussion_UserSignature" align="center"><font color="#0000ff"><em>I really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function.</em></font> </div> </div>

 

[richalex]

The lineup of several craters reminds me of the comet impact on Jupiter several years ago.

 

[silylene old]

Interesting observation. Perhaps pictures from a better perspective will shed light on this. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature" align="center"><em><font color="#0000ff">- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -</font></em> </div><div class="Discussion_UserSignature" align="center"><font color="#0000ff"><em>I really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function.</em></font> </div> </div>

 

[franontanaya]

Looks like there are quite less craters on the right side, even below Caloris. And check those two craters at Caloris with a very bright center and a very dark rim, wow. The chained craters near the south pole are awesome too. Half way below the center, there is also that tiny dark spot or an high peak casting a shadow. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[llivinglarge]

Astronomers are going to have a field day with this.<br /><br />Are any features on the unseen hemisphere named?

 

[alokmohan]

Mercury near Suns noth pole.Ulysses Spacecraft Flies Over Sun's North P<br />Date Released: Tuesday, January 15, 2008<br />Source: Jet Propulsion Laboratory<br />http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.nl.html?pid=24515<br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br />The Ulysses spacecraft today is making a rare flyby of the sun's north pole. Unlike any other spacecraft, Ulysses is able to sample winds at the sun's poles, which are difficult to study from Earth. <br /><br />Ulysses has flown over the sun's poles three times before, in 1994-95, 2000-01 and 2007. Last week, solar physicists announced the first indications of a new solar cycle. Visiting the pole at this time may lead to new insights about solar activity. <br /><br />"This is a wonderful opportunity to examine the sun's north pole within a transition of cycles," said Arik Posner, Ulysses program scientist at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "We've never done this before." <br /><br />Many researchers believe the sun's poles a<br />

 

[JonClarke]

Much more so than the Moon. There are a lot more that have dark haoloes too. One has a brightish floor and a dark halo. Most odd. <br /><br />Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[JonClarke]

With this image does anyone know how much of the surface we have now seen? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[3488]

Good morning Jon,<br /><br />About 75% of the total surface area of Mercury.<br /><br />I am blown away by this. For sooooo long we have waited to see this.<br /><br />Amazing image, not as detailed as Mariner 10 for sure, but still a prettry good 10 KM reso.<br /><br />I have cropped, enhanced & enlarged what may be the outer rim of the Skinakas Basin.<br /><br />Also what appears to be a gigantic scarp on the terminator.<br /><br />How about what appears to be a gigantic normal fault near the south pole close to the<br />morning terminator?<br /><br />It is a gigantic cliff if that is what it is, even taller than the Verona Rupes on the Uranus <br />Moon Miranda. <br /><br />Perhaps related to the adjacent crater chain or tectonics???<br /><br />Needless to say, I will be back. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /><br /><br />Hopefully before too long we get to see some NAC images of this face of Mercury.<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>

 

[Philotas]

Certainly not what <i>I</i> expected to see, oh well. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />Lots of interesting features there. Some ridge features superimposed on craters on the left side; the most noticeable one at 9 O' clock. EDIT: (andrew beat me to it <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> ) <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[3488]

Hi Philotas. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /><br /><br />What did you expect to see??<br /><br />This is pretty much what I had expected. The view is fairly similar to what Mariner 10<br />showed us. <br /><br />1). There are the intercrater lava plains. <br /><br />2). There are craters. <br /><br />3). There are more scarps.<br /><br />There are a few things that we have not seen before, like the gigantic fault I mentioned.<br /><br />I expect this view will make more sense when the higher resolution <br />images start coming back. This is a great image to start with though. I am absolutely <br />delighted to see it.<br /><br />I had hoped for giant volcanoes & canyons, they don't exist (I did not expect them too, <br />just hoped), but this view is historic, showing us a perspective of Mercury, never seen before.<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>

 

[Philotas]

I'd expect to see something like this, I guess the contrast is fooling me. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[3488]

Hi Philotas,<br /><br />Yes guess it is a contrast issue. The image you linked to was from the second Mariner 10 <br />encounter, during the southern hemisphere pass on Saturday 21st September 1974.<br /><br />Back to MESSENGER.<br /><br />A nice crater here approx 100 KM wide with a tall central peak, near the morning <br />terminator in this MESSENGER crop. That peak must be very tall, to appear this <br />emboldened on a 10 KM reso image.<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>

 

[jmilsom]

Awesome first image. Great work picking out some of the features Andrew. Can't wait to see more. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[h2ouniverse]

hi andrew,<br /><br />congratulations for this processing.<br />I'm delighted too to see fault lines OVER craters in your "gigantic scarp at terminator" picture.<br /><br />Regards.

 

[zeldun]

Nice picture. Are there going to be any colored pictures too?

 

[3488]

Hi Zeldun,<br /><br />shuttle_guy is correct. Mercury is essentially monochrome, so the standard visible <br />colour images will not really look any different.<br /><br />What will be colourful, will be the multispectral imagery, which reveal surface composition.<br /><br />Different colours will correspond to different minerology. These are not true colour images, as<br />IR & UV filters will be used.<br /><br />As shuttle_guy correctly says, in true colour, Mercury is rather grey. Mercury's surface is<br />essentially basaltic rock.<br /><br />Any news as yet regarding further downloads?? Has Ulysses & DAWN been sorted??<br /><br />If no news by the time I get home this afternoon, I will make phone calls to JHU again &<br />relay any news to this thread.<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]

Thanks Joel,<br /><br />I was very happy to be able to do these images this morning. I was up late last <br />night waiting for the image release, only for it to happen less than 20 minutes <br />after I went to bed. <img src="/images/icons/crazy.gif" /><br /><br />Also I was up earlier this morning to check.<br /><br />That is a huge scarp & the fact is cuts through craters, reveals that the scarp is younger <br />than the impact craters. Very interesting indeed.<br /><br />I know that you dissed Mercury research a while back on another thread, but we will<br />learn so much about the formation of the terrestrial planets with Mercury.<br /><br />I too am a fan of outer solar system research, like the New Horizons mission to Pluto & the <br />KBO, but I am a fan of planetary research full stop. <br /><br />Mercury to me is as interesting as Pluto, Titan, Ganymede, Io, etc, due to <br />the fact, that Mercury has had a very unique history & has spent so much of its history <br />so close to our Sun.<br /><br />I love that first image, really very detailed & of amazing quality.<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]

You're most welcome jmilsom,<br /><br />I am very privelidged to be able to serve our community by trying to find things of interest.<br /><br />Because of the amazing image quality from MESSENGER, I was able to <br />crop small sections & enlarge them without losing any real detail.<br /><br />I will be doing more later, when I have time @ home. So please check back.<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>

 

[nimbus]

Wow! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[nimbus]

This is just my very amateur 2c, but none of the craters are as large as those seen on the Moon. They are all rather small. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[CalliArcale]

Bear in mind, Nimbus, that Mercury is larger than the Moon. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

<br />Mercury is 40% greater in diameter than the Moon. <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>

 

[h2ouniverse]

Hi Andrew,<br /><br />To me the first obligation of people in charge of exploration is to map! So complementing Mercury's map is very important indeed.<br /><br />I am glad that one mission does that. But I still abide by my previous comments, that three spacecrafts to Mercury (NASA's Messenger, ESA's BepiColombo and its JAXA companion) seem disproportionate given the lack of missions to the far more populous Mid- and Outer system.<br /><br />I hope that ice will be discovered at poles but my optimism is moderate (for once!)... on the Moon the lattest findings have been disappointing in that respect.<br />It's funny btw that the only atmosphere-less (*) three planetary bodies in the Inner System (Mercury, the Moon and Ceres) have all a very low tilt angle vs ecliptic, raising hopes of everlasting polar ice deposits...<br /><br />Best regards<br /><br />(*) disregarding the few molecules of their offical "atmospheres"!

 

[h2ouniverse]

This article on NewScientist:<br />http://space.newscientist.com/article/dn13191-probe-returns-first-image-of-mercurys-unseen-side.html