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| Piú viste - Mercury |
Mercury - Caloris Basin from Mariner 10.jpgCaloris Basin - Mariner 1092 visiteLa storia dell'esplorazione di Mercurio poteva essere finita così, e invece, dopo 30 anni di "abbandono" ecco un fatto nuovo (e, alla data in cui scriviamo, imminente): la NASA sta per inviare un "Messaggero" verso Mercurio!
Si tratta di un gioco di parole, ovviamente: il Messaggero di cui parliamo è, infatti, una Sonda di nome "Messenger", appunto.
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ZP-Mercury-PIA10380.jpgMercury's Internal Magnetic Field92 visiteCaption NASA:"This depiction of a simulated Mercury Magnetosphere shows representations of the distortions of the Planetary Magnetic Field Lines (blue) by the Solar Wind. Mariner 10 data showed the first evidence for a Magnetic Field at Mercury, an unexpected result. The equatorial pass of MESSENGER during quiet solar conditions provided better data than were available from Mariner 10.
MESSENGER saw an Internal Magnetic Field that is well described by the field from a dipole nearly aligned with the Planet's Spin Axis (dipole tilt ~ 10°). This geometry is similar to that observed by Mariner 10 during its first flyby. The field strength is weaker by about one third than that detected by Mariner 10 during its third (and last) flyby, owing primarily to the difference in trajectories (Mariner 10 flow directly over the magnetic pole where the field strength is greatest). When corrected for our best estimate for the external field, the MESSENGER observations and the two Mariner 10 passes are consistent with very similar solutions for the mean Planetary Magnetic Dipole. The Dipolar Field is consistent with an active electrical dynamo in which the magnetic field is produced by electrical currents flowing in an outer core of molten metal.
The observations do not yet allow us to identify whether a small secular variation may have occurred, determine higher order structure in the field, or assess whether crustal magnetic signatures may be present at other longitudes.
A combination of the next two flybys and the orbital phase of MESSENGER's mission will be required to sort out all of these possible effects".MareKromium
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ZZ-Mercury-Global_View_of_the_Surface-PIA14378.jpgThe Cratered Surface of Mercury (Natural Colors; credits: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington)92 visiteThis color image reveals two of Mercury's named Craters, Basho and Bartok. Basho is the Dark-Rimmed Crater to the far left of the image, and Bartok is the bright yellow crater approximately in the center. Both Craters have visible Central Peaks, but Bartok's Peaks appear blue in this image, indicating they may be made of a different material that was unearthed by the large force of the impact.
This image was acquired as part of MDIS's color base map. The color base map is composed of WAC images taken through eight different narrow-band color filters and will cover more than 90% of Mercury's Surface with an average resolution of 1 Km/pixel (0,6 miles/pixel). The highest-quality color images are obtained for Mercury's Surface when both the Spacecraft and the Sun are overhead, so these images typically are taken with viewing conditions of low Incidence and Emission Angles.
Date acquired: June, 21st, 2011
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 217134583, 217134599, 217134579
Image ID: 407077, 407081, 407076
Instrument: Wide Angle Camera (WAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
WAC filters: 9 (1000 nanometers), 7 (750 nanometers), 6 (430 nanometers) as red-green-blue.
Center Latitude: 3,.68° South
Center Longitude: 221,4° East
Resolution: 1806 meters/pixel
Scale: Basho, the Dark-Rimmed Crater at far left, is approx. 74 Km in diameter.
Solar Incidence Angle: 51.4° (with the Sun about 38,6° above the Local Horizon)
Emission Angle: 0,6°
Sun-Target-Spacecraft (or "Phase") Angle: 51,6°MareKromium
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ZZ-Mercury-Craters-Unnamed_Crater-PIA17290-PCF-LXTT-IPF-0.jpgUnnamed and (relatively) Fresh Impact Crater (CTX Frame - Absolute Natural Colors; credits for the additional process. and color.: Dr Paolo C. Fienga/Lunar Explorer Italia/Italian Planetary Foundation)92 visiteThis Absolute Natural Color Image-Mosaic shows us a bright (and, of course, relatively speaking, "fresh") Impact Crater - approx. 33 Km (such as about 20,49 miles) in diameter - exhibiting possible evidence of a Pyroclastic Deposit on it's Eastern Side (---> Dx of the Crater for the Observer), as well as a series of Secondary Impact Craters which have unearthed some - still unknown - kind of Sub-Surface Material, barely visible (and lightly gray-colored) in the North-Eastern corner of the picture (---> upper right quadrant).
Date acquired: November, 6th, 2011
Images Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 229105596, 229105592, 229105588
Images ID: 980566, 980565, 980564
Instrument: Wide Angle Camera (WAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: 25,42° North
Center Longitude: 266,80° East
Solar Incidence Angle: 52,3° (meaning that the Sun, at the time that the picture was taken, was about 37,7° above the imaged Local Mercurian Horizon)
Emission Angle: 16,8°
Sun-Mercury-Messenger (or "Phase") Angle: 69,1°
This picture (which is an Original NASA - MESSENGER Spacecraft's false colors Map-Projected image-mosaic published on the NASA - Planetary Photojournal with the ID n. PIA 17290) has been additionally processed, contrast enhanced, magnified and then re-colorized in Absolute Natural Colors (such as the colors that a human eye would actually perceive if someone were onboard the NASA - MESSENGER Spacecraft and then looked down, towards the Surface of Mercury), by using an original technique created - and, in time, dramatically improved - by the Lunar Explorer Italia Team. Different colors, as well as different shades of the same color, mean, among other things, the existence of different Elements (Minerals) present on the Surface of Mercury, each having a different Albedo (---> Reflectivity) and Chemical Composition.MareKromium
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ZZ-Mercury-Craters-Unnamed_Craters-PIA17827-PCF-LXTT-IPF-2.jpgMercurian Nightfall (EDM - Absolute Natural Colors; credits for the additional process. and color.: Dr Paolo C. Fienga/Lunar Explorer Italia/Italian Planetary Foundation)92 visiteWith the Sun already extremely low in the Sky over this Mercurian Region located in the Northern Hemisphere of the Innermost Planet of the Solar System (the Sun is only about 8° above the imaged Local Horizon), the long, deep and dark Shadows created by this specific Spatial Configuration, accentuate the very uneven (---> highly irregular) nature of the Terrain.
This picture, which is just a Magnified Crop taken from yesterdy's frame, shows, to the most attentive Viewers, a very unusually-looking Surface Feature whose origin and nature cannot be identified with certainty. However, it could - probably - be an oblong Secondary Crater with a strange - and still illuminated - Central Peak, or, maybe, a Wall-like Relief that divides the Floor of a Pit Crater. Again, as we said herebefore, a definitive answer about what we are actually looking at, cannot be given at this time.
The Feature here, if you wish to take a look at the so-called Contextual Image (CTX Frame), is located on the lower portion of the frame, slightly towards the left (Sx).
Date acquired: November, 12th, 2013
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 26543484
Image ID: 5181047
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: 67,11° North
Center Longitude: 249,80° East
Solar Incidence Angle: 82,0° (meaning that the Sun, at the time that the picture was taken, was about 8,0° above the imaged Local Mercurian Horizon)
Emission Angle: 36,9°
Sun-Mercury-Messenger (or "Phase") Angle: 118,9°
This picture (which is a crop taken by an Original NASA - MESSENGER Spacecraft's b/w and NON-Map-Projected image published on the NASA - Planetary Photojournal with the ID n. PIA 17827) has been additionally processed, contrast enhanced, Gamma corrected, magnified to aid the visibility of the details and then colorized in Absolute Natural Colors (such as the colors that a human eye would actually perceive if someone were onboard the NASA - MESSENGER Spacecraft and then looked outside, towards the Surface of Mercury), by using an original technique created - and, in time, dramatically improved - by the Lunar Explorer Italia Team. Different colors, as well as different shades of the same color, mean, among other things, the existence of different Elements (Minerals) present on the Surface of Mercury, each having a different Albedo (---> Reflectivity) and Chemical Composition.MareKromium
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ZZ-Mercury-Craters-To_Ngoc_Van_Crater-PIA15201-PCF-LXTT-IPF-00.jpgTo Ngoc Van (CTX Frame - Absolute Natural Colors; credits for the additional process. and color.: Dr Paolo C. Fienga/Lunar Explorer Italia/Italian Planetary Foundation)92 visiteIn this beautiful view obtained by the NASA - MESSENGER Spacecraft on November, 8, 2011, we can see, once again, prominent, near the center of the degraded Impact Crater To Ngoc Van, an interesting (and really irregularly shaped) Collapse Pit (approx. 20 Km - such as about 12,42 miles - across). As a matter of fact, many samples of Impact Craters with one (or more) Collapse Pit/s located on their Floors, have already been identified across the Mercurian Surface and - most likely - they all formed as a consequence of (extremely ancient) phenomena of Explosive Volcanism.
Date acquired: November, 8th, 2011
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 229277972
Image ID: 988708
Instrument: Wide Angle Camera (WAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: 52,89° North
Center Longitude: 248,60° East
Solar Incidence Angle: 60,3° (meaning that the Sun, at the time that the picture was taken, was about 29,7° above the imaged Local Mercurian Horizon)
Emission Angle: 23,0°
Sun-Mercury-Messenger (or "Phase") Angle: 83,4°
This picture (which is an Original NASA - MESSENGER Spacecraft's b/w and Map-Projected image published on the NASA - Planetary Photojournal with the ID n. PIA 15201) has been additionally processed, contrast enhanced, Gamma corrected, magnified to aid the visibility of the details and then colorized in Absolute Natural Colors (such as the colors that a human eye would actually perceive if someone were onboard the NASA - MESSENGER Spacecraft and then looked outside, towards the Surface of Mercury), by using an original technique created - and, in time, dramatically improved - by the Lunar Explorer Italia Team. Different colors, as well as different shades of the same color, mean, among other things, the existence of different Elements (Minerals) present on the Surface of Mercury, each having a different Albedo (---> Reflectivity) and Chemical Composition.MareKromium
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Mercury - Amru Al-Qays Crater - Mariner 10.jpgAmru Al-Qays Crater - Mariner 1090 visiteMercurio è, ad oggi, il Pianeta conosciuto più vicino al Sole (e diciamo "ufficialmente" poichè, come alcuni Scienziati e Ricercatori ritengono, potrebbe anche esistere almeno un altro corpo celeste minore - forse un pianetino? - ancora più interno). Ci stiamo riferendo alla leggenda del "Gemello di Mercurio": un piccolo pianeta, si dice, di dimensioni simili a quelle di Mercurio (forse leggermente più piccolo) il quale si muoverebbe lungo un'orbita solo relativamente stabile e ad una velocità piuttosto elevata. Esso, sia a causa della sua orbita, sia in ragione dell'estrema vicinanza al Sole, risulterebbe completamente invisibile a noi Terrestri.
Si tratta di pura fantasia? Forse. Noi Vi diamo comunque 3 elementi da considerare: 1) l'orbita di Mercurio, al suo perielio, presenta sempre una leggera variazione (notata anche da Einstein; 2) la Sonda Soho, in più occasioni, ha rilevato degli enormi "fluxtubes" sollevarsi dalla corona solare (e di uno di questi ne abbiamo la fotografia nella Sezione "Sun")...
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ZZ-Mercury-Craters-Unnamed_Craters-PIA17827-PCF-LXTT-IPF-00.jpgMercurian Nightfall (CTX Frame - Absolute Natural Colors; credits for the additional process. and color.: Dr Paolo C. Fienga/Lunar Explorer Italia/Italian Planetary Foundation)90 visiteWith the Sun already extremely low in the Sky over this Mercurian Region located in the Northern Hemisphere of the Innermost Planet of the Solar System (the Sun is only about 8° above the imaged Local Horizon), the long, deep and dark Shadows created by this specific Spatial Configuration, accentuate the very uneven (---> highly irregular) nature of the Terrain.
In fact, the Surface visible here (---> we are looking at a scene which is about 14,6 Km - such as a very little more than 9 miles - across) has been battered - for eons and eons - by a countless number of Meteors and other Cosmic Impactors, until the Hilly Surface that exists and we can see today was finally created. For the most attentive Viewers, we, as IPF, strongly suggest you to take a careful look at the (very unusually-looking) Surface Feature (probably an oblong Secondary Crater with a strange - and still illuminated - Central Peak) that is located on the lower portion of the frame, slightly towards the left (Sx).
Date acquired: November, 12th, 2013
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 26543484
Image ID: 5181047
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: 67,11° North
Center Longitude: 249,80° East
Solar Incidence Angle: 82,0° (meaning that the Sun, at the time that the picture was taken, was about 8,0° above the imaged Local Mercurian Horizon)
Emission Angle: 36,9°
Sun-Mercury-Messenger (or "Phase") Angle: 118,9°
This picture (which is an Original NASA - MESSENGER Spacecraft's b/w and NON-Map-Projected image published on the NASA - Planetary Photojournal with the ID n. PIA 17827) has been additionally processed, contrast enhanced, Gamma corrected, magnified to aid the visibility of the details and then colorized in Absolute Natural Colors (such as the colors that a human eye would actually perceive if someone were onboard the NASA - MESSENGER Spacecraft and then looked outside, towards the Surface of Mercury), by using an original technique created - and, in time, dramatically improved - by the Lunar Explorer Italia Team. Different colors, as well as different shades of the same color, mean, among other things, the existence of different Elements (Minerals) present on the Surface of Mercury, each having a different Albedo (---> Reflectivity) and Chemical Composition.MareKromium
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ZZ-Mercury-Rupes-CN0131773865_web.pngAstrolabe Rupes (natural colors; credits: Lunexit)89 visiteDate Acquired: October 6, 2008
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 131774936
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Resolution: 660 meters/pixel (0,41 miles/pixel)
Scale: Ghiberti crater is approx. 123 Km in diameter (about 76 miles)
Spacecraft Altitude: about 26.000 Km (approx. 16.000 miles)
Of Interest: This NAC image, taken about 85 minutes after MESSENGER’s closest approach during the mission’s second Mercury flyby, shows a view of Astrolabe Rupes, named for the ship of the French explorer Jules Dumont d’Urville. Rupes is the Latin word for cliff. Mercury’s day/night transition (the Terminator) is located on the left side of the image, and the Sun is striking the cliff face of Astrolabe Rupes in the upper right of the image. Also visible in the image are additional unnamed rupes, whose cliff faces are casting dark shadows. One of these rupes intersects the crater Ghiberti, named for the Italian Renaissance sculptor. Rupes on Mercury are thought to have formed as the interior of Mercury cooled and the planet consequently contracted slightly. Determining the number and extent of rupes on Mercury can thus be used to understand the thermal history of the Planet.MareKromium
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ZZ-Mercury-Craters-Soseki-PIA16356-PCF-LXTT-IPF.jpgFeatures of Soseki Crater (Absolute Natural Colors; credits for the additional process. and color.: Dr Paolo C. Fienga/Lunar Explorer Italia/Italian Planetary Foundation)89 visiteThis Image-Mosaic shows part of the Mercurian Crater Soseki, in the North/West. A deep Scarp cuts through several Impact Craters visible on the right side of the image, though it does not stand out in this high-Sun view. The bright band crossing from upper right to lower left, is a Ray coming from the Crater Hokusai, which is located far away, to the North/East. Hokusai's Rays overprint older Impact Craters and cover a large portion of the whole Planet.
This image was acquired as a High-Resolution Targeted Color Observation. Targeted Color Observations are images of a small area on Mercury's Surface at resolutions higher than the 1-kilometer per pixel "Color Base Map". During MESSENGER's one-year Primary Mission, hundreds of Targeted Color Observations were obtained. During MESSENGER's extended mission, HR Targeted Color Observations are more rare, as the Color Base Map is covering Mercury's Northern Hemisphere with the highest-resolution color images that are possible.
Date acquired: April 09, 2011
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 210807763, 210807759, 210807755
Image ID: 108194, 108193, 108192
Instrument: Wide Angle Camera (WAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
WAC filters: 9, 7, 6 (996, 748, 433 nanometers) in red, green, and blue
Center Latitude: 36,39° North
Center Longitude: 323,5° East
Resolution: 302 meters/pixel
Scale: the Unnamed Impact Crater with the bright Floor (visible in the upper left corner of the frame) is about 32 Km in diameter (such as approx. 20 miles)
Solar Incidence Angle: 37,5° (meaning that the Sun was about 52,5° above the imaged Local Horizon at the time that the pictures were taken)
Emission Angle: 11,2°
Sun-Mercury-MESSENGER (or "Phase") Angle: 48,7°MareKromium
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ZZ-Mercury-Craters-Bek_Crater-PIA16626-PCF-LXTT-IPF.jpgBek Crater (Absolute Natural Colors; credts for the additional process. and color.: Dr Paolo C. Fienga/Lunar Explorer Italia/Italian Planetary Foundation)89 visiteIn this frame, which is a composite of imagest taken by the NASA - MESSENGER Spacecraft, now orbiting the Planet Mercury, shows us the beautiful Bright Rays of Bek Crater (whose diameter is about 32 Km - such as approx. 20 miles) which dominate this scene, covering a few nearby Unnamed Impact Craters with Wisps of fresh Material. On the other hand, Lermontov Crater, seen at the bottom of the image, is thought to have been the site of explosive Volcanic Eruptions.
Date acquired: April, 12th, 2011
Images Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 211111707, 211111727, 211111711
Images ID: 122544, 122549, 122545
Instrument: Wide Angle Camera (WAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: 21,31° North
Center Longitude: 308,8° East
Resolution: 401 meters/pixel
Solar Incidence Angle: 25,8° (meaning that the Sun, at the time that the pictures were taken, was about 64,2° above the imaged Local Mercurian Horizon)
Emission Angle: 30,0°
Sun-Mercury-Messenger (or "Phase") Angle: 55,9°
This picture (which is an Original NASA - MESSENGER Spacecraft color image mosaic published on the NASA - Planetary Photojournal with the ID n. PIA 16626) has been additionally processed and then re-colorized in Absolute Natural Colors (such as the colors that a human eye would actually perceive if someone were onboard the NASA - MESSENGER Spacecraft and then looked down, towards the Surface of Mercury), by using an original technique created - and, in time, dramatically improved - by the Lunar Explorer Italia Team. Different colors, as well as different shades of the same color, mean, among other things, the existence of different Elements (Minerals) present on the Surface of Mercury, each having a different Albedo (---> Reflectivity) and Chemical Composition.MareKromium
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ZZ-Mercury-Craters-Kertesz_Crater-PIA16770-PCF-LXTT-IPF.jpgLow Sun over Kertész Crater (Absolute Natural Colors; credits for the additional process. and color.: Dr Paolo C. Fienga/Lunar Explorer Italia/Italian Planetary Foundation)89 visiteThis spectacular NASA - MESSENGER Spacecraft's image is a mosaic of 3 (three) separate Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) frames. It gives us a close-up look at the enigmatic Kertesz Crater (whose diameter is approx. 31 Km - such as about 19,2 miles) and its very extensive System of Hollows.
Date acquired: Jaunuary, 11th, 2013
Images Mission Elapsed Time (MET) since January 8, 2013: 187422, 187426, 187430
Images ID: 3307043, 3307044, 3307045
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: 27,38° North
Center Longitude: 146,3° East
Resolution: 30 meters/pixel
Solar Incidence Angle: 80,5° (meaning that the Sun, at the time that the pictures were taken, was about 9,5° above the imaged Local Mercurian Horizon)
Emission Angle: 16,2°
Sun-Mercury-Messenger (or "Phase") Angle: 64,3°
This picture (which is an Original NASA - MESSENGER Spacecraft b/w image mosaic published on the NASA - Planetary Photojournal with the ID n. PIA 16770) has been additionally processed and then colorized in Absolute Natural Colors (such as the colors that a human eye would actually perceive if someone were onboard the NASA - MESSENGER Spacecraft and then looked down, towards the Surface of Mercury), by using an original technique created - and, in time, dramatically improved - by the Lunar Explorer Italia Team. Different colors, as well as different shades of the same color, mean, among other things, the existence of different Elements (Minerals) present on the Surface of Mercury, each having a different Albedo (---> Reflectivity) and Chemical Composition.MareKromium
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