The first images from MESSENGER have started to arrive. Mercury is still a blurry crescent, but exciting images are ahead Time to keep an eye on this page (the mission's main flyby1 site)If there is going to be any kind of live coverage on NASA TV, like MRO's orbit insertion, maybe it would be a good idea to host a live event on the 14th.
There's also a very good article summarizing (but with good detail) the objectives of the mission, this flyby, and a good deal of illustrative images in this Planetary Society article... take a look at that tortuous path to get to Mercury in 2011!
eeergo - 10/1/2008 5:48 PMThere's also a very good article summarizing (but with good detail) the objectives of the mission, this flyby, and a good deal of illustrative images in this Planetary Society article... take a look at that tortuous path to get to Mercury in 2011!
Getting closer .. Jan 11
http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/gallery/sciencePhotos/pics/EN0108486541M.IMG.DLS.fits.jpg" />
We are 3 hours and a half away from closest approach, and this is the last released image, taken at 760000 km from Mercury with a resolution of 20 km/pixel.
There is a great timeline of events here, where you can follow what is happening in these crucial moments.
Wildthing - 14/1/2008 11:50 AMIs any of this flyby being covered live on NASA TV ??....When can we expect to see pictures taken during closest approach Kind of surprised there isn't more live coverage and commentary on this site about this mission...especially at this stage...
edkyle99 - 14/1/2008 12:22 PM QuoteWildthing - 14/1/2008 11:50 AM Is any of this flyby being covered live on NASA TV ??....When can we expect to see pictures taken during closest approach Kind of surprised there isn't more live coverage and commentary on this site about this mission...especially at this stage... We'll probably see something tomorrow, but I don't expect much. Messenger has flown by Venus twice and the Earth once during its three-plus year mission so far, but APL has only posted 10 images and a half-dozen movies on its web site, encompassing all of these flybys, to date. Such hoarding of the type of imaging that the general public would be most interested in is puzzling, especially when NASA science seems in need of a bit of self promotion. - Ed Kyle
Wildthing - 14/1/2008 11:50 AM Is any of this flyby being covered live on NASA TV ??....When can we expect to see pictures taken during closest approach Kind of surprised there isn't more live coverage and commentary on this site about this mission...especially at this stage...
Far cry from the circus that accompanied each of the flybys of the 70's. Combined lack of interest from the public, and downplaying of anything not VSE/manned exploration. The funds for web communication are tiny, and even thats not present even in a minimal way.
As to science hoarding, look at the difference between Huygens and Cassini - ESA still hasn't released all, and Cassini still is doing real-time releases. This is untypical of JHU APL, but typical of following current political trend. Sure hope this changes by the time we flyby the formerly known as planet Pluto ...
edkyle99 - 14/1/2008 12:22 PMWe'll probably see something tomorrow, but I don't expect much...