APOD: All of Mercury (2013 Jun 12)

[APOD Robot]

All of Mercury

Explanation: For the first time, the entire surface of planet Mercury has been mapped. Detailed observations of the innermost planet's surprising crust have been ongoing since the robotic MESSENGER spacecraft first passed Mercury in 2008 and began orbiting in 2011. Previously, much of the Mercury's surface was unknown as it is too far for Earth-bound telescopes to see clearly, while the Mariner 10 flybys in the 1970s observed only about half. The above video is a compilation of thousands of images of Mercury rendered in exaggerated colors to better contrast different surface features. Visible on the rotating world are rays emanating from a northern impact that stretch across much of the planet, while about half-way through the video the light colored Caloris Basin rotates into view, a northern ancient impact feature that filled with lava. MESSENGER has now successfully completed its primary and first extended missions.

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[bystander]

http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA16850
http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA16852
http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA16853

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap130301.html
http://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=130301

[Boomer12k]

Nice Vid...

:---[===] *

[Stendec]

This is interesting, but during the first 3 seconds and the last 3 seconds of the video a section comes into view at the top of the picture which shows an obvious gap in the photo montage. It seems that this video does not represent the completed mapping spoken of in the article.

[geckzilla]

This is interesting, but during the first 3 seconds and the last 3 seconds of the video a section comes into view at the top of the picture which shows an obvious gap in the photo montage. It seems that this video does not represent the completed mapping spoken of in the article.

Looks to me more like that particular part is in black and white and hence did not receive any color emphasis.

[madtom1999]

That was horrible - it looked like jelly or Jupiter with all the bits rotating and slipping.

[Indigo_Sunrise]

madtom, I'm not sure what you mean by 'all the bits rotating and slipping'...?
The video shows planet Mercury rotating. What exactly do you mean by 'slipping'? Maybe your video player needs updating...? Just a thought/suggestion.

I found the video very interesting, if a bit fast. Is that so it mimics the actual speed that Mercury spins?

[orin stepanek]

Neat video; I liked it!

[saturno2]

Very good video
It is the product of thousands images
The surface of Mercury is different than others planets of
Solar System

[stephen63]

This is interesting, but during the first 3 seconds and the last 3 seconds of the video a section comes into view at the top of the picture which shows an obvious gap in the photo montage. It seems that this video does not represent the completed mapping spoken of in the article.

That's not a gap. That's where the underground explosion occurred on April 1st. Part of the planet was blown into space.

[Beyond]

I like the 'exaggerated' colors. It gives it Pizzazz

[Skytreker]

That's great, but can we have in in normal color please?

[stephen63]

That's great, but can we have in in normal color please?

Google
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/multimedia/ ... IM_ID=7543

[BDanielMayfield]

I found the video very interesting, if a bit fast. Is that so it mimics the actual speed that Mercury spins?

I too found the video’s rotation rate far too fast to really enjoy taking in Mercury’s features. And the vid’s speed has nothing to do at all with Mercury’s rotation rate. Mercury has the 2nd slowest planetary rotation rate in the solar system (after Venus). It’s sidereal rotation period is 58.6 days, or about 2/3rds of its 88 day long year.

[Bill RSaturn Galaxy]

Is there anything showing Earth in a similar manner. I wonder what we would see if we saw Earth rendered in exaggerated colors to better contrast different surface features? Great video. I like it almost as much as the one from a few years back that showed Earth's moon shift through its phases.

[geckzilla]

Is there anything showing Earth in a similar manner. I wonder what we would see if we saw Earth rendered in exaggerated colors to better contrast different surface features? Great video. I like it almost as much as the one from a few years back that showed Earth's moon shift through its phases.

It's arguable that you wouldn't want Earth's surface features exaggerated because it is already so interesting. Seeing it in its natural, unadulterated state would probably be preferable to many. Looking at mercury is sort of like looking at our moon except it doesn't even have those familiar maria which we imagine to be many things. It's no wonder someone chose to emphasize the colors to help Mercury's naturally indiscernible features pop out and become apparent.

[neufer]

Click to view full size image

It's arguable that you wouldn't want Earth's surface features exaggerated because it is already so interesting. Seeing it in its natural, unadulterated state would probably be preferable to many. Looking at mercury is sort of like looking at our moon except it doesn't even have those familiar maria which we imagine to be many things. It's no wonder someone chose to emphasize the colors to help Mercury's naturally indiscernible features pop out and become apparent.

• . http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap020305.html

[Chris Peterson]

Is there anything showing Earth in a similar manner. I wonder what we would see if we saw Earth rendered in exaggerated colors to better contrast different surface features? Great video. I like it almost as much as the one from a few years back that showed Earth's moon shift through its phases.

It's arguable that you wouldn't want Earth's surface features exaggerated because it is already so interesting. Seeing it in its natural, unadulterated state would probably be preferable to many. Looking at mercury is sort of like looking at our moon except it doesn't even have those familiar maria which we imagine to be many things. It's no wonder someone chose to emphasize the colors to help Mercury's naturally indiscernible features pop out and become apparent.

For the whole Earth, I'd agree (although multichannel Earth observation satellites usually portray things in rather garish colors). But locally, aerial and satellite imagery of the Earth are enhanced the same way all the time. Geologists do it to distinguish the makeup of areas of sand and rock. Archaeologists do it to detect subsurface artifacts. Ecologists do it to enhance plant structure in forests.

[geckzilla]

Click to view full size image

Garish colors? You don't say! I hated this image so much that I downloaded the largest format available and tinkered with the individual channels. I got it looking a lot better aesthetically and gave the vegetation (red) greater depth by assigning it a color gradient and overlaying it on top of the other two which I converted to RGB with pseudogreen much like HLA processing but in the end conceded defeat because the cost was losing color distinction between water and man made structures. Geck 0, Pros 1

[neufer]

Click to play embedded YouTube video.

• Romeo and Juliet Act 3, Scene 2

JULIET: Come, gentle night, come, loving, black-brow'd night,

• Give me my Romeo; and, when he shall die,
  Take him and cut him out in little stars,
  And he will make the face of heaven so fine
  That all the world will be in love with night
  And pay no worship to the garish sun.

[Beyond]

Click to view full size image

Garish colors? You don't say! I hated this image so much that I downloaded the largest format available and tinkered with the individual channels. I got it looking a lot better aesthetically and gave the vegetation (red) greater depth by assigning it a color gradient and overlaying it on top of the other two which I converted to RGB with pseudogreen much like HLA processing but in the end conceded defeat because the cost was losing color distinction between water and man made structures. Geck 0, Pros 1

As the Rolling Stones sing... "You can't always get what you want." That applies to geckos also.

[Stendec]

Upon closer examination I concur that the area I mentioned in my previous post has some craters and is merely uncolored. I also noticed two or three other uncolored areas. I plead presbyopia. (Or I can think of some other excuse if you don't like that one.)

[Beyond]

That excuse works well for me. I don't have the foggiest idea what it means, and I'm tooo lazy to look it up.

[neufer]

Upon closer examination I concur that the area I mentioned in my previous post has some craters and is merely uncolored. I also noticed two or three other uncolored areas. I plead presbyopia. (Or I can think of some other excuse if you don't like that one.)

That excuse works well for me.

I don't have the foggiest idea what it means, and I'm tooo lazy to look it up.

And you call yourself "far-sighted."

• (Forest & Trees)

[Beyond]

Upon closer examination I concur that the area I mentioned in my previous post has some craters and is merely uncolored. I also noticed two or three other uncolored areas. I plead presbyopia. (Or I can think of some other excuse if you don't like that one.)

That excuse works well for me.

I don't have the foggiest idea what it means, and I'm tooo lazy to look it up.

And you call yourself "far-sighted."

• (Forest & Trees)

, eggzackly, i think.