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General Discussion => Science & Nature => Topic started by: sam on October 13, 2008, 11:04

Title: Scientific Picture of the Week
Post by: sam on October 13, 2008, 11:04

MESSENGER reveals more of Mercury’s secrets

(https://www.pc-pals.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi71.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi126%2Fweirdspaceman%2F081008merc1.png&hash=e3dcef19c737c7456a89fa6f3ee44df72018a14e)


The wide angle camera took this image of the planet about 90 minutes after closest approach. The image reveals an extensive ray system of bright white material emanating from a relatively young impact crater in the north of the planet and extending to regions south of the crater known as Kuiper, the bright crater in the centre of the image, that was previously identified in Mariner 10 images. The rays appear brighter than their surrounds since they represent fresh material thrown out from the crater that has yet to be degraded by Mercury’s environment. Image: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington.

http://astronomynow.com/081008MESSENGERrevealsmoreofMercuryssecrets.html