Comments on: The colors of Mercury http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:09:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Tom Marking http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/comment-page-1/#comment-130132 Tom Marking Thu, 30 Oct 2008 23:47:50 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/#comment-130132 "This means that there should be a rather large area at the poles in which the crater bottoms are always in shadow and the crater rims are always in sunshine." More specifically, a 1-kilometer wide rocky asteroid impacting at 30 km/sec at an angle of 45 degrees leaves an impact crater on Mercury that is 22.2 km wide and 1.18 km deep. If such an impact crater were to occur within 6 degrees of latitude of either the Mercurian north pole or south pole (i.e., Mercurian latitude is greater than 84 degrees North or less than 84 degrees South) then the bottom of such a crater will be in perpetual darkness. This area where the crater can be and be dark at the bottom represents 0.5 percent of the total surface area of Mercury. “This means that there should be a rather large area at the poles in which the crater bottoms are always in shadow and the crater rims are always in sunshine.”

More specifically, a 1-kilometer wide rocky asteroid impacting at 30 km/sec at an angle of 45 degrees leaves an impact crater on Mercury that is 22.2 km wide and 1.18 km deep. If such an impact crater were to occur within 6 degrees of latitude of either the Mercurian north pole or south pole (i.e., Mercurian latitude is greater than 84 degrees North or less than 84 degrees South) then the bottom of such a crater will be in perpetual darkness. This area where the crater can be and be dark at the bottom represents 0.5 percent of the total surface area of Mercury.

]]> By: Tom Marking http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/comment-page-1/#comment-130090 Tom Marking Thu, 30 Oct 2008 19:10:06 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/#comment-130090 @John Lerch "Are the great circle arcs, lines of ejecta or are they artifacts of the data storage? I presume they’re not meridians drawn (by NASA) from the mercury pole; so how are the poles for habitation–are there craters at the poles deep enough to be comfortable (sun never rises)?" The rays are real. They appear to be coming from the crater at the top of the image. It must be one of the more recent craters to form. The axial tilt of Mercury is the smallest of any planet in the solar system. It is only 0.035 degrees. This means that there should be a rather large area at the poles in which the crater bottoms are always in shadow and the crater rims are always in sunshine. @John Lerch “Are the great circle arcs, lines of ejecta or are they artifacts of the data storage? I presume they’re not meridians drawn (by NASA) from the mercury pole; so how are the poles for habitation–are there craters at the poles deep enough to be comfortable (sun never rises)?”

The rays are real. They appear to be coming from the crater at the top of the image. It must be one of the more recent craters to form. The axial tilt of Mercury is the smallest of any planet in the solar system. It is only 0.035 degrees. This means that there should be a rather large area at the poles in which the crater bottoms are always in shadow and the crater rims are always in sunshine.

]]> By: John Lerch http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/comment-page-1/#comment-130029 John Lerch Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:52:27 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/#comment-130029 Are the great circle arcs, lines of ejecta or are they artifacts of the data storage? I presume they're not meridians drawn (by NASA) from the mercury pole; so how are the poles for habitation--are there craters at the poles deep enough to be comfortable (sun never rises)? One would need a heat absorber/radiator to get rid of the last of the heat from the day and transport heat up for the worst of the nights. Are the great circle arcs, lines of ejecta or are they artifacts of the data storage?
I presume they’re not meridians drawn (by NASA) from the mercury pole; so how are the poles for habitation–are there craters at the poles deep enough to be comfortable (sun never rises)? One would need a heat absorber/radiator to get rid of the last of the heat from the day and transport heat up for the worst of the nights.

]]> By: IVAN3MAN http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/comment-page-1/#comment-130007 IVAN3MAN Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:53:13 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/#comment-130007 Fidelus Astronautica: "Yes, the links working! Praise the Lord!" Praise the Lord, my hairy ass! You should really praise the web-master of this site for permitting the link to your crappy creationist propaganda web-site. :roll: Fidelus Astronautica: “Yes, the links working! Praise the Lord!”

Praise the Lord, my hairy ass! You should really praise the web-master of this site for permitting the link to your crappy creationist propaganda web-site. :roll:

]]> By: Joker http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/comment-page-1/#comment-130005 Joker Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:46:57 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/#comment-130005 Well Fidel <i> (BTW. I’m guessing the ‘Fidel’ in your moniker here is from Fidel Castro, y’know that Cuban guy? Yeah? ) </i> I saw that link - and yes It made go "oh Jeez-Zus!" alright. ... But probably NOt inthe way youwere hoping for. If anyone wants to avoid wasting their time, Fidel's little linky is to a Creationist website - the one that used to be the long-since discredited Answ-errs-In-Genes-sis. <i>(Or something like that! ;-) ) </i> Basically it says - there are some unknown mysteries with Mercury -therefore ... GODDIDIT! Its rubbish. @ Shane - Nah, Pluto not being a planet isn't the worst error there by a long margin. In fact, the whole article is one long error - and besides, Pluto is too a planet - coz K9 from Dr Who said so! ;-) .. & I've wasted more'n'enough time on this nonsense already. :-( Well Fidel (BTW. I’m guessing the ‘Fidel’ in your moniker here is from Fidel Castro, y’know that Cuban guy? Yeah? )

I saw that link – and yes It made go “oh Jeez-Zus!” alright.

… But probably NOt inthe way youwere hoping for.

If anyone wants to avoid wasting their time, Fidel’s little linky is to a Creationist website – the one that used to be the long-since discredited Answ-errs-In-Genes-sis. (Or something like that! ;-) )

Basically it says – there are some unknown mysteries with Mercury -therefore … GODDIDIT! Its rubbish.

@ Shane – Nah, Pluto not being a planet isn’t the worst error there by a long margin. In fact, the whole article is one long error – and besides, Pluto is too a planet – coz K9 from Dr Who said so! ;-)

.. & I’ve wasted more’n'enough time on this nonsense already. :-(

]]> By: shane http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/comment-page-1/#comment-129988 shane Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:59:18 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/#comment-129988 Thank you Fidelus, my eyes have seen the glory and I am going to repent of the evils of evolution and sinful astronomy. If I was American I would be lining up now to vote for McCain/Palin - blessed be their names.... :roll: Nah, not really. Obviously that webpage was written by a biologist because they keep referring to evolutionists saying this and that about planetary formation. I think the word they're looking for is <i>astronomer</i> or <i>astrophysicist</i>. There is so much wrong with that article I don't know where to begin. The most obvious error? Pluto is a planet? Puhleeese. Thank you Fidelus, my eyes have seen the glory and I am going to repent of the evils of evolution and sinful astronomy. If I was American I would be lining up now to vote for McCain/Palin – blessed be their names….
:roll:
Nah, not really.

Obviously that webpage was written by a biologist because they keep referring to evolutionists saying this and that about planetary formation. I think the word they’re looking for is astronomer or astrophysicist. There is so much wrong with that article I don’t know where to begin. The most obvious error? Pluto is a planet? Puhleeese.

]]> By: Fidelus Astronautica http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/comment-page-1/#comment-129979 Fidelus Astronautica Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:32:06 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/#comment-129979 Yes, the links working! Praise the Lord! I hope all those proud scientists here have the intelligence to visit this site and really, really *think* about the challenges Mercury poses us mortal men and women with our guesswork theories versus the Eternal Word. Go on evolutionists read it & really think! And when you're done thinking search your heart for what's really true. Yes, the links working! Praise the Lord!

I hope all those proud scientists here have the intelligence to visit this site and really, really *think* about the challenges Mercury poses us mortal men and women with our guesswork theories versus the Eternal Word.

Go on evolutionists read it & really think!

And when you’re done thinking search your heart for what’s really true.

]]> By: Gary Ansorge http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/comment-page-1/#comment-129978 Gary Ansorge Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:30:47 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/#comment-129978 I wonder how much dust litters the surface of Mercury? Could it all have melted into larger chunks? Meteoric dust is one of the primary inhibiters to Lunar construction. It gets into everything and degrades moving components. Not particularly good for human lungs, either. HAving said that, I can think of a half dozen ways to protect both,,, One SciFi story I read years ago, proposed using AI 'bots to build power generating stations on the light side of Mercury and a large particle accelerator on the dark side, to generate and store anti matter, the ultimate fuel for reaction drives. I wonder if EXXON will ever get into such energy sources.?(,,,mumbles abstractedly, while checking investment portfolio,,,) ,,,of course, there's probably lots of Helium 3 to mine, as well,,,(Says the Polywell reactor fan,,,) Gary 7 I wonder how much dust litters the surface of Mercury? Could it all have melted into larger chunks?

Meteoric dust is one of the primary inhibiters to Lunar construction. It gets into everything and degrades moving components. Not particularly good for human lungs, either. HAving said that, I can think of a half dozen ways to protect both,,,

One SciFi story I read years ago, proposed using AI ‘bots to build power generating stations on the light side of Mercury and a large particle accelerator on the dark side, to generate and store anti matter, the ultimate fuel for reaction drives. I wonder if EXXON will ever get into such energy sources.?(,,,mumbles abstractedly, while checking investment portfolio,,,)

,,,of course, there’s probably lots of Helium 3 to mine, as well,,,(Says the Polywell reactor fan,,,)

Gary 7

]]> By: Fidelus Astronautica http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/comment-page-1/#comment-129976 Fidelus Astronautica Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:24:40 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/#comment-129976 For another more challenging view of Mercury and the key problems it poses for the standard "scientific" model - click on my name above. If it works .. For another more challenging view of Mercury and the key problems it poses for the standard “scientific” model – click on my name above. If it works ..

]]> By: Steve A http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/comment-page-1/#comment-129875 Steve A Wed, 29 Oct 2008 23:19:09 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/#comment-129875 "Oh, do you mean “March”, not “Mach” as in the speed of sound???" Yup, March. I'll blame the keyboard. :) “Oh, do you mean “March”, not “Mach” as in the speed of sound???”

Yup, March. I’ll blame the keyboard. :)

]]> By: Mena http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/comment-page-1/#comment-129870 Mena Wed, 29 Oct 2008 23:11:56 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/#comment-129870 According to the main Yahoo page news section, "NASA probe shows Mercury spewed 'dark blue material'". At least the linked to article explains reality. They just labeled it with "NASA probe shows Mercury more dynamic than thought" and explained that it wasn't <i>really</i> blue. According to the main Yahoo page news section, “NASA probe shows Mercury spewed ‘dark blue material’”. At least the linked to article explains reality. They just labeled it with “NASA probe shows Mercury more dynamic than thought” and explained that it wasn’t really blue.

]]> By: Tom Marking http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/comment-page-1/#comment-129846 Tom Marking Wed, 29 Oct 2008 22:38:44 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/#comment-129846 Impactors on Mercury must be travelling between 4.2 and 115.6 kilometers per second. That compares to a range of 11.2 to 71.9 kilometers per second for the earth. Thus, the minimum impact velocity on Mercury is 38 percent of what it is for the earth and the maximum impact velocity on Mercury is 161 percent of what it is for the earth. Thus, the same mass impactor can smack Mercury with 2.6 times the maximum kinetic energy as it can hit the earth with. That means Mercury can get clobbered really bad. See that crater with the bright rays in the middle of the picture? That's Kuiper crater and it has a diameter of 60 kilometers. It would have taken a 3.1 kilometer wide rocky asteroid travelling at 30 km/sec to create that guy. The details are as follows: Target planet or moon = Mercury Diameter of the impactor = 3.1 kilometers Density of the impactor = 2.50 gm/cm^3 Initial velocity of the impactor = 30.00 km/sec Initial elevation angle of the impactor above horizon = 45.0 degrees Density of the target surface = 2.50 gm/cm^3 Land strike Distance of observer from surface impact point = 1000.0 km Gravitational acceleration at surface of planet = 3.68 m/s^2 Minimum velocity of an impactor = 4.2 km/sec Maximum velocity of an impactor = 115.6 km/sec Atmospheric pressure at surface = 0.000E0 pascals Atmospheric density at surface = 0.000E0 gm/cm^3 Surface temperature = 67.0 deg C Initial kinetic energy of impactor in outer space = 1.75E22 joules = 4.19E6 Megatons TNT An impact of this size occurs once every 4.20E7 years Atmospheric entry: Velocity of the impactor at the surface = 30.00 km/sec Elevation angle of the impactor at the surface = 45.0 degrees Amount of energy dissipated in the atmosphere = 0.00% Kinetic energy of impactor at the surface = 1.75E22 joules = 4.19E6 Megatons TNT = 8.96 Richter scale Cratering effects: Width of transient crater at the surface = 3.83E1 km Depth of transient crater at the surface = 1.35E1 km Volume of transient crater at the surface = 7.81E3 km^3 Width of final crater at the surface = 6.02E1 km Depth of final crater at the surface = 1.59E0 km Volume of final crater at the surface = 2.26E3 km^3 Impactors on Mercury must be travelling between 4.2 and 115.6 kilometers per second. That compares to a range of 11.2 to 71.9 kilometers per second for the earth. Thus, the minimum impact velocity on Mercury is 38 percent of what it is for the earth and the maximum impact velocity on Mercury is 161 percent of what it is for the earth. Thus, the same mass impactor can smack Mercury with 2.6 times the maximum kinetic energy as it can hit the earth with. That means Mercury can get clobbered really bad.

See that crater with the bright rays in the middle of the picture? That’s Kuiper crater and it has a diameter of 60 kilometers. It would have taken a 3.1 kilometer wide rocky asteroid travelling at 30 km/sec to create that guy. The details are as follows:

Target planet or moon = Mercury
Diameter of the impactor = 3.1 kilometers
Density of the impactor = 2.50 gm/cm^3
Initial velocity of the impactor = 30.00 km/sec
Initial elevation angle of the impactor above horizon = 45.0 degrees
Density of the target surface = 2.50 gm/cm^3
Land strike
Distance of observer from surface impact point = 1000.0 km

Gravitational acceleration at surface of planet = 3.68 m/s^2
Minimum velocity of an impactor = 4.2 km/sec
Maximum velocity of an impactor = 115.6 km/sec
Atmospheric pressure at surface = 0.000E0 pascals
Atmospheric density at surface = 0.000E0 gm/cm^3
Surface temperature = 67.0 deg C
Initial kinetic energy of impactor in outer space = 1.75E22 joules
= 4.19E6 Megatons TNT

An impact of this size occurs once every 4.20E7 years

Atmospheric entry:
Velocity of the impactor at the surface = 30.00 km/sec
Elevation angle of the impactor at the surface = 45.0 degrees
Amount of energy dissipated in the atmosphere = 0.00%
Kinetic energy of impactor at the surface = 1.75E22 joules
= 4.19E6 Megatons TNT
= 8.96 Richter scale

Cratering effects:
Width of transient crater at the surface = 3.83E1 km
Depth of transient crater at the surface = 1.35E1 km
Volume of transient crater at the surface = 7.81E3 km^3
Width of final crater at the surface = 6.02E1 km
Depth of final crater at the surface = 1.59E0 km
Volume of final crater at the surface = 2.26E3 km^3

]]> By: Gavin Flower http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/comment-page-1/#comment-129836 Gavin Flower Wed, 29 Oct 2008 22:16:54 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/#comment-129836 My last post omitted a smiley... My last post omitted a smiley…

]]> By: Gavin Flower http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/comment-page-1/#comment-129834 Gavin Flower Wed, 29 Oct 2008 22:16:06 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/#comment-129834 "Mach 2011" wow that's fast!!! Oh, do you mean "March", not "Mach" as in the speed of sound??? <grins> “Mach 2011″ wow that’s fast!!!

Oh, do you mean “March”, not “Mach” as in the speed of sound???

]]> By: Ivan V. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/comment-page-1/#comment-129828 Ivan V. Wed, 29 Oct 2008 21:42:02 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/#comment-129828 I understand that this image is a composition from multi-spectral images? Do you know if the raw data for those images is going to be available to general public? In my research group we have been working with hyper-spectral images for quite a while and I would LOVE to work with those images. :D I understand that this image is a composition from multi-spectral images? Do you know if the raw data for those images is going to be available to general public? In my research group we have been working with hyper-spectral images for quite a while and I would LOVE to work with those images. :D

]]> By: Steve A http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/comment-page-1/#comment-129824 Steve A Wed, 29 Oct 2008 21:15:04 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/#comment-129824 The schedule is insertion in Mach 2011. But, we fortunately have another flyby next September to tide us over. I can't wait. If the past two flybys are any indication, there is going to be some great science once it actually is taking measurements for long periods of time. The schedule is insertion in Mach 2011. But, we fortunately have another flyby next September to tide us over. I can’t wait. If the past two flybys are any indication, there is going to be some great science once it actually is taking measurements for long periods of time.

]]> By: Mercurius grijs én in kleur en Astroblogs http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/comment-page-1/#comment-129823 Mercurius grijs én in kleur en Astroblogs Wed, 29 Oct 2008 21:13:08 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/#comment-129823 [...] De NASA hield vandaag een persconferentie over de laatste scheervlucht langs Mercurius van de Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry, and Ranging, die we beter kennen onder de naam Messenger. Die scheervlucht vond 6 oktober j.l. plaats en het leverde 1.287 foto’s (650 mb) op. Dertig procent van het oppervlak van Mercurius, die nooit eerder was gezien, werd door de Messenger in beeld gebracht. Normaal is Mercurius een grijze planeet, maar dankzij het gebruik van 11 spectraalfilters in het Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS) kon men toch kleuren op Mercurius verkrijgen. Volgens de NASA zou bovenstaande foto-rechts een benadering moeten zijn van wat het menselijk oog vanaf dezelfde afstand van Mercurius zou zien, dus geen overdreven valse kleuren dit keer. De gele gebieden zijn relatief jong, de blauwe gebieden oud. In de NASA-bron vind je nog veel meer data en foto’s van de Messenger over Mercurius.  Op 29 september 2009 is de derde scheervlucht, dus we hebben even de tijd om die data door te nemen. Bron: NASA + Bad Astronomy. [...] [...] De NASA hield vandaag een persconferentie over de laatste scheervlucht langs Mercurius van de Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry, and Ranging, die we beter kennen onder de naam Messenger. Die scheervlucht vond 6 oktober j.l. plaats en het leverde 1.287 foto’s (650 mb) op. Dertig procent van het oppervlak van Mercurius, die nooit eerder was gezien, werd door de Messenger in beeld gebracht. Normaal is Mercurius een grijze planeet, maar dankzij het gebruik van 11 spectraalfilters in het Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS) kon men toch kleuren op Mercurius verkrijgen. Volgens de NASA zou bovenstaande foto-rechts een benadering moeten zijn van wat het menselijk oog vanaf dezelfde afstand van Mercurius zou zien, dus geen overdreven valse kleuren dit keer. De gele gebieden zijn relatief jong, de blauwe gebieden oud. In de NASA-bron vind je nog veel meer data en foto’s van de Messenger over Mercurius.  Op 29 september 2009 is de derde scheervlucht, dus we hebben even de tijd om die data door te nemen. Bron: NASA + Bad Astronomy. [...]

]]> By: WJM http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/comment-page-1/#comment-129822 WJM Wed, 29 Oct 2008 21:09:51 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/#comment-129822 Can we get one of them there Chandrayaans in orbit around Mercury, too? Can we get one of them there Chandrayaans in orbit around Mercury, too?

]]> By: LarianLeQuella http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/comment-page-1/#comment-129815 LarianLeQuella Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:33:22 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/#comment-129815 Way to be a tease MESSENGER! ;) Is it early 2011 or late 2011 when she goes into orbit? Way to be a tease MESSENGER! ;) Is it early 2011 or late 2011 when she goes into orbit?

]]> By: Chip http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/comment-page-1/#comment-129805 Chip Wed, 29 Oct 2008 19:12:15 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/#comment-129805 Very nice images. I'm reminded that Mercury is not the moon. Lunar-like, yes; grey to the eye and heavily cratered, but really a very different world. On the surface, up close its likely even more unusual. Some day, if humans or robots actually land on the surface, I think they'd find many unusual local features. Very nice images. I’m reminded that Mercury is not the moon. Lunar-like, yes; grey to the eye and heavily cratered, but really a very different world. On the surface, up close its likely even more unusual.
Some day, if humans or robots actually land on the surface, I think they’d find many unusual local features.

]]> By: Phil Plait http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/comment-page-1/#comment-129803 Phil Plait Wed, 29 Oct 2008 18:59:28 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/#comment-129803 The images I linked are the highest-res ones released. I'm hoping they'll have better ones soon. Check Emily's blog too, since she generally gets really good images. The images I linked are the highest-res ones released. I’m hoping they’ll have better ones soon. Check Emily’s blog too, since she generally gets really good images.

]]> By: Progress of Messenger in the Solar system - Page 5 - Bad Astronomy and Universe Today Forum http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/comment-page-1/#comment-129799 Progress of Messenger in the Solar system - Page 5 - Bad Astronomy and Universe Today Forum Wed, 29 Oct 2008 18:44:04 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/#comment-129799 [...] Posted by 01101001 News Conference [...] I missed it. Some coverage is in BA Blog: The colors of Mercury News conference will probably be rerun on NASA TV today. __________________ 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 [...] [...] Posted by 01101001 News Conference [...] I missed it. Some coverage is in BA Blog: The colors of Mercury News conference will probably be rerun on NASA TV today. __________________ 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 [...]

]]> By: The Chemist http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/comment-page-1/#comment-129798 The Chemist Wed, 29 Oct 2008 18:39:48 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/#comment-129798 OT, Just finished your book. EXCELLENT. <a href="http://mychemicaljourney.blogspot.com/2008/10/oh-my-stars-and-garters.html" rel="nofollow">My review is here.</a> (There's a small typo on p.138) OT,

Just finished your book. EXCELLENT. My review is here. (There’s a small typo on p.138)

]]> By: Dan Fischer http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/comment-page-1/#comment-129797 Dan Fischer Wed, 29 Oct 2008 18:39:12 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/#comment-129797 The highest resolution images released so far (including today) from the 2nd flyby can be <a href="http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/gallery/sciencePhotos/view.php?gallery_id=2&page=1&bydate=2008-10" rel="nofollow">found here</a>: click on the images, then again - that's how large as they get. The highest resolution images released so far (including today) from the 2nd flyby can be found here: click on the images, then again – that’s how large as they get.

]]> By: Charles http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/comment-page-1/#comment-129795 Charles Wed, 29 Oct 2008 18:32:45 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/10/29/the-colors-of-mercury/#comment-129795 'Artificially enhanced' or not, it certainly is beautiful. Like Gnat, I would like to have a hi-res copy. ‘Artificially enhanced’ or not, it certainly is beautiful.

Like Gnat, I would like to have a hi-res copy.

]]>