The Challenge of Observing Mercury

Details The Challenge of Observing Mercury The Challenge of Observing Mercury

Jan 2009

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009dps....40.6301m&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #40, #63.01; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 41, p.563

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

Scientific paper

Many ALPO members continue to observe Mercury with a higher quality of drawings and images.Some albedo features were identified and showed in good agreement with the IAU surface chart prepared by Murry, Smith and Dolfus.
Also, the ALPO section has received excellent observations of Mercury within the region from 280 to 360 degrees W longitude. This area is not mapped by the Mariner 10 and not yet imaged by the MESSENGER spacecraft. One feature may be prominent called 'Skinakas basin'. The location of this area is about 280 degrees W longitude and a bit north of equator. It is sort of a nickname and it is not approved by the IAU. It has an unusual marking, quite large and circular in appearance. This may be the darkest albedo feature of the unseen side.
Further west and south of "Skinakas basin', there are numerous white areas. They show up as bright spots. The only explanation for these bright spots may be the crater ejecta rays. These features have good contrast under the high sun. We don't see the crater themselves, but we can see the effect of the surrounded area. About three to four large crater ejecta rays can be counted in one large area between 300 degrees W and 360 degrees W of the unmapped portion of the surface.
Finally, it took us 33 years for us to return to Mercury after the Mariner 10 spacecraft. Now the MESSENGER probe provided new information. Amateurs have their fair share too observing Mercury at the same time with the MESSENGER. Amateurs have imaged Mercury with high resolution showing major features that match up quite well. The viewing angle of the spacecraft was almost the same line of sight as seen from earth. So, they look nearly identical and close enough for comparison.

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