out of mind |
there is a place you can go, even for just a moment - to contemplate reality. to absorb knowledge. to become more scientifically literate than you were before. in this place you may see things that frighten you, that shock you, that force you to question the world around you. within this place you have the ability to discuss, contemplate & define your own inner peace. this is a place that strives to educate in order to achieve a more harmonious balance with the world & grasp the actions needed to perfect our life, our world or our own personal corner of the planet. within this place, your ideas, current education, ideals, traditions & religions may be tested. this place will challenge your mind, build your courage & embrace your fears. this place encourages you to understand your place in the universe. just like the world we know, this will not always be a safe place. this place is not a room to hide in, it is a gateway to a higher sense of purpose. this place is an open door that allows you to move freely at your own pace without prejudice or judgement. this is that place. and it's yours. and ultimately, it's whatever you need it to be in your place in time. peace & love to each of you. enjoy. |
NASA’s MESSENGER spacecraft, about to wrap up its first full year in orbit around Mercury, captured this view of the planet’s heavily-cratered southern hemisphere on August 28, 2011. Because of its orbit, MESSENGER gets particularly good panoramic views of Mercury’s underside.
Here’s why…
MESSENGER’s orbit, established on March 18, 2011 at 00:45 UTC, is not a simple circling path around the first rock from the Sun. Instead it is highly elliptical, bringing it 124 miles (200 km) above Mercury’s north pole at its closest and more than 9,420 miles (15,193 km) from its south pole at its farthest! (See diagram below.)
The close approaches over the northern hemisphere allow MESSENGER to study the Caloris basin, Mercury’s largest surface feature and, at over 960 miles (1,550 km) across, one of the largest impact craters in the entire Solar System.
The view of Mercury’s southern hemisphere above features some notable craters as well: the relatively youthful 444-mile (715-km) -wide Rembrandt basin is seen at top right, while the smaller pit-floor crater Kipling can be discerned to its left, just below the planet’s limb.
When craters are larger than 300 km in diameter, they are referred to as basins.
During its 12 months in orbit MESSENGER will have experienced only two days on Mercury! This is because Mercury rotates very slowly on its axis, completing a full solar day (sunrise to sunrise) every 176 Earth days. (And you thought your work day seemed to last forever!)