MESSENGER Mercury Updates.

[MeteorWayne]

From there, just to write on your calendars...<br /><br />The NASA spacecraft will return for its second flyby on 6 October 2008, and then again on 29 September 2009. The flybys are part of an elaborate celestial manoeuvre that will drop the spacecraft into its mapping orbit around the planet on 18 March 2011 <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]

First Close Ups coming in NOW incredible, just incredible. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /><br /><br />Vivaldi Crater inbound.<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]

Wow, craters on craters on craters.<br /><br />It's tough hanging out near the gravitational well of the solar system <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <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]

Indeed<br /><br />Several double-ringed craters. And few central peaks. <br />Does it mean the impact occured on a mallow ground or crust?<br />

 

[3488]

Not only that MeteorWayne, but also new images from the until recently unseen <br />side are in, the high resolution ones. They will be released very shortly apparently.<br /><br />Some of these apparently show features never seen before on Mercury.<br /><br />I hope interesting volcanic geology. I can see another phone call to JHU coming up.<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]

I looked at scale comparison pictures. I might be mistaking whatever the Moon's dark spots are for craters..<br />This is one of the images I used. <br /><br />Not counting those dark spots, there doesn't seem to be much difference between the Moon's and Mercury's craters, so I suppose those dark spots aren't crater marks. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[jsmoody]

New Image on the website:<br /><br />New Photo <br /><br />Much better detail... <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> No amount of belief makes something a fact" - James Randi </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

ISn't that the same one from an hour ago? <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>

 

[jsmoody]

Yep. Sorry, I missed the other post. Great photo though. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> No amount of belief makes something a fact" - James Randi </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

No doubt.<br /><br />My impression is that the layering of craters atop one another is greater than on the moon. I';ll need to look at some moon shots fro comparison as similar resolution.<br /><br />Not sure if that's real or not though.<br /><br />It just looks rather different than I remember.<br /><br />Next time I'm in the basement I'll bring up my photo album from Mariner. <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 />Remember the lighting angle is very different from Mariner 10. Also this image<br />is a higher resolution than the Mariner 10 images were of Vivaldi Crater.<br /><br />I have cropped & enlarged Vivaldi Crater. MESSENGER NAC image.<br /><br />Simulation of Sunset as seen from Vivaldi Crater @ 18:08 UT (time of image) on:<br />Monday 14th January 2008.<br /><br />My crappy attempt @ trying to bring the Caloris Basin out a bit. Very high Sun angle.<br /><br />An enlarged portion of the equatorial region & terminator of the previously unimaged hemisphere.<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>

 

[logicize]

It looks like your picture of Caloris Basin shows evidence of an advanced highway systems. Not any normal highway system either. I have to check this out with Hoagland. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[jmilsom]

Amazing images! And taken 56 minutes before closest approach! The nearest images will be astounding methinks. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

IIRC, it was 56 minutes <i>after</i> closest approach. <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]

If there are high cliffs, in case of an overhang or cave or step on the cliffs, I wonder what the equilibrium temperature would be in daylight. The walls of the cave would be heated by conduction from the soil (*) and by radiation from the sunlit surface in visibility, and evacuate by radiation to the 3K space as a function of unobstructed solid angle. Some combinations should produce low temps. In particular for North facing cliffs in the Northern hemisphere (and South facing in S hemisphere).<br /><br />The IR map will be interesting...<br /><br />(*) with averaging effect over the very long Mercurian day by the thermal inertia

 

[jmilsom]

Yes. It's early in the morning here and I just settled down to the computer with my first cup of coffee for the day.<br /><br />Just re: checked the site though and it says:<br /><br />This MESSENGER image was taken from a distance of about18,000 kilometers (11,000 miles), about 56 minutes before the spacecraft's closest encounter with Mercury. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

I guess it's too late here and my coffee has worn off <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />Now I remember, it was yesterday's image that was taken after (~80 min?)the close encounter. <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, it was 56 minutes before closest approach. <br /><br />Vivaldi was visble on the inbound leg of the encounter. <br /><br />However the images 56 minutes after closest approch will of similar resolution of<br />as you called Herme Ingonita. I like that term very much.<br /><br />With your permission, I would like to use that as an informal term for images <br />of the previously unseen terrain.<br /><br />I have found & tried to do something with this Vivaldi Crater image from Mariner 10.<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>

 

[lampblack]

Andrew... just a word from the peanut gallery to say "thanks" for your work in this thread.<br /><br />You've done yeoman's duty to help make the Mercury fly-by accessible to the rest of us. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#0000ff"><strong>Just tell the truth and let the chips fall...</strong></font> </div>

 

[jmilsom]

<font color="yellow">I have found & tried to do something with this Vivaldi Crater image from Mariner 10. </font><br /><br />Don't let the phenomena people see that one. It is bound to be interpreted as an alien construct!!!<br /><br />Nice work though to compare to the new image.<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[3488]

Guys,<br /><br />More in from Hermes Incognita 300 metre resolution view of newly found scarp.<br /><br />360 metre resolution view of cratered terrain on the previously unimaged terrain.<br /><br /><font color="yellow">Edited due to bad typos, thanks to swampcat for pulling me up on that</font><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>

 

[Swampcat]

<font color="#ffff00">"...Herme Ingognita..."</font><br /><br />Perhaps this is a nit I'm picking (or I have no idea what I'm talking about), but shouldn't it be "Herme<font color="#ffa500"><strong><em>s</em></strong></font> In<font color="#ffa500"><strong><em>c</em></strong></font>ognita?" <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="3" color="#ff9900"><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong><em>------------------------------------------------------------------- </em></strong></font></p><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong><em>"I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."</em></strong></font></p><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong>Thomas Jefferson</strong></font></p></font> </div>

 

[3488]

<font color="orange">Crops & enlargements of MESSENGER NAC images</font><br /><br />Enlargement & crop of scarp in Hermes Incognita. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /><br /><br /><font color="yellow">I have taken the crop over the point where the scarp cuts through the crater wall</font><br /><br />Crop & enlargement of craters in Hermes Incognita. <font color="yellow">The crater chain leading away <br />from the main crater is interesting. Oblique impact</font>?<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]

Hi lampblack.<br /><br />Thank you very much. I am really enjoying this encounter very much.<br /><br />Mercury post Mariner 10, has been largely neglected. It is very good to see some real serious<br />research happening again.<br /><br />Whilst this is 'only' an encounter to assist with MESSENGER's trajectory<br />(to lose approx 8,000 KPH / 5,000 MPH of heliocentric velocity), this encounter has<br />been a proper mission in its own right. Many primary mission objectives are well <br />on the way to being accomplished.<br /><br />A lot has been done successfully over the last few days & I am very priviledged to be <br />able to contribute in some way, on SDC to be able to share the spoils.<br /><br />Out of the three pre orbital mission encounters, this one reveals the most of the <br />previously unimaged hemisphere. The upcoming one on Monday 6th October 2008, will show<br />most of the remainder of the unimaged hemisphere, but will see more of the Mariner 10 side,<br />but under differing illumination. When the October 2008 encounter has concluded, then <br />Mercury will have been imaged in its entirety.<br /><br />The final pre arrival encounter on Tuesday 29th September 2009, is a virtual <br />rerun of the October 2008 one. The illumination of Mercury then is only 3 degrees different.<br /><br />So this encounter, really was the 'big' one, regarding imaging & researching the <br />unimaged hemisphere. <br /><br />Another oxymoron with this encounter, is that MESSENGER will provide the <br />highest resolution of some parts of Mercury, during the entire mission.<br /><br />During the orbital mission, the Periherm will occur over the Caloris Basin & the northern latitudes.<br /><br />The southern hemisphere will be seen from about 65,000 KM Apoherm, at a <br />lower resolution, then during this pass. This encounter from a science view point really is<br />very, very important.<br /><br />AFAIK, the ESA BepiColombo, will orbit Mercury in a low polar orbit, so the ESA <br />spacecraft <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]

Amazing images!!! Oh to be born 500 years in the future and exploring space in person!!! Keep em coming Andrew.<br /><br />Can't wait til I finish my dang thesis so I can get back to my space hobby more intensively. Off to the UNi now for a meeting with my super. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>