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Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Messenger's Degas View
NASA ^
| June 22, 2011
| (see photo credit)
Posted on 06/22/2011 3:09:29 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
Explanation: Now imaging inner planet Mercury from orbit, the MESSENGER spacecraft wide angle camera has returned this impressive color view of Degas Crater, with a full resolution of 90 meters per pixel. Named for the impressionist painter, the 52 kilometer diameter crater is also shown in an inset context image from the Mariner 10 flyby mission in the mid 1970s. In MESSENGER's view, the crater floor is seen to be filled with an intricate series of cracks, formed as the molten surface resulting from the impact cooled and contracted. Starkly bright, patchy deposits, suggesting compositional differences and freshly exposed material, standout around the crater's central peaks and walls. Details of similar bright deposits are seen in even higher resolution images from MESSENGER.
(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...
TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; astronomy; mercury; science
[Credit: NASA/JHU APL/CIW]
1
posted on
06/22/2011 3:09:34 AM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
To: brytlea; cripplecreek; decimon; bigheadfred; KoRn; Grammy; married21; steelyourfaith; Mmogamer; ...
This is a shot of the Degas crater on Mercury. Note: I dropped the all-caps "MESSENGER" in the title.
2
posted on
06/22/2011 3:15:42 AM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(Thanks Cincinna for this link -- http://www.friendsofitamar.org)
To: SunkenCiv
3
posted on
06/22/2011 4:20:31 AM PDT
by
JohnG45
To: SunkenCiv
I like this one. But I wish they would have shown the whole crater.
4
posted on
06/22/2011 4:51:23 AM PDT
by
bigheadfred
( He put... creatures... in our bodies... to control our minds.)
To: JohnG45
Are you sure? Or are you just horsing around?
5
posted on
06/22/2011 4:54:36 AM PDT
by
Young Werther
("Quae cum ita sunt" Since these things are so!)
To: SunkenCiv
here's a nice one that shows the ejecta pattern better
6
posted on
06/22/2011 4:54:51 AM PDT
by
bigheadfred
( He put... creatures... in our bodies... to control our minds.)
To: SunkenCiv
7
posted on
06/22/2011 4:59:45 AM PDT
by
JoeProBono
(A closed mouth gathers no feet)
To: Young Werther
Just kidding.
By the way, what’s with the long face?
8
posted on
06/22/2011 6:27:47 AM PDT
by
JohnG45
To: JohnG45
Are you going to Kerry this thread onward and upward!
I actually thought that picture was the inside of this smiley face's bikini!
9
posted on
06/22/2011 7:55:52 AM PDT
by
Young Werther
("Quae cum ita sunt" Since these things are so!)
To: JohnG45
Stop looking in the mirror and pay attention to the APOD. ;-p
10
posted on
06/22/2011 11:50:13 AM PDT
by
TheOldLady
(FReepmail me to get ON or OFF the ZOT LIGHTNING ping list.)
To: SunkenCiv; bigheadfred
That looks like a relatively recent impact. The two that are near it have already been covered by regolith.
I agree with you Fred. It’s odd that the crater is a third out of the frame. Hmmm... that must be the location of the aliens’ star base.
11
posted on
06/22/2011 12:12:39 PM PDT
by
TheOldLady
(FReepmail me to get ON or OFF the ZOT LIGHTNING ping list.)
To: JohnG45; Young Werther
Oh, a wise guy, huh?
12
posted on
06/22/2011 4:46:34 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(Thanks Cincinna for this link -- http://www.friendsofitamar.org)
To: bigheadfred
Thanks, that is a nice one.
13
posted on
06/22/2011 4:47:15 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(Thanks Cincinna for this link -- http://www.friendsofitamar.org)
To: TheOldLady
Yeah, that must be it. ;’)
14
posted on
06/22/2011 4:47:39 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(Thanks Cincinna for this link -- http://www.friendsofitamar.org)
To: SunkenCiv
15
posted on
06/22/2011 4:49:57 PM PDT
by
TheOldLady
(FReepmail me to get ON or OFF the ZOT LIGHTNING ping list.)
To: JoeProBono
16
posted on
06/22/2011 5:29:19 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(Thanks Cincinna for this link -- http://www.friendsofitamar.org)
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