New Horizons at Io |
New Horizons at Io |
Feb 24 2007, 07:53 PM
Post
#1
|
||||
Senior Member Group: Moderator Posts: 3233 Joined: 11-February 04 From: Tucson, AZ Member No.: 23 |
Since the New Horizons Jupiter Encounter thread is already getting pretty long, I decided to create a thread dedicated to New Horizons' observations of the most interesting object in the solar system: Io. Info on upcoming observations comes from the jupiter_timeline_static.xls document john_s posted, and the preview images are from Celestia (note that each image is scaled so that the pixel scale is ~correct, and represents a smaller FOV than LORRI)
Today, February 24, New Horizons conducts three observations of Io with the LORRI camera as well some observations of Io's atmosphere with ALICE. These observations have the lowest phase angle for Io of the entire encounter. Phase angle continues to increase as NH approaches Jupiter and Io. The first observation, ISunMon1, shows Io's sub-Jovian hemisphere (Clat=5.5 S, Clon=340.2 W) from a distance of 7,856,307 km. The resolution with LORRI would be 38.8 km/pixel. Pele is on the limb at lower right and Masubi is on the limb at lower left. Ra Patera is near center. The second observation, ISunMon2, also shows Io's sub-Jovian hemisphere (Clat=5.5 S, Clon=15.1 W) from a distance of 7,575,510 km. The resolution with LORRI would be 37.5 km/pixel. The Tvashtar plume might be poking above the limb at upper left. The third observation, ISunMon3, shows Io's leading hemisphere (Clat=6.0 S, Clon=84.7 W) from a distance of 6,627,459 km. The resolution with LORRI would be 32.8 km/pixel. The Zamama plume might be visible just above center on the left limb. It only gets better from here. Not sure how NH downlink works, but there is a DSN window right after the last Io observation, hopefully at least one frame from each observation will be returned. Maybe they can do the Huffman window right around where Io is... Tomorrow contains four more observations of Io, highlighting Pele and an eclipse. -------------------- &@^^!% Jim! I'm a geologist, not a physicist!
The Gish Bar Times - A Blog all about Jupiter's Moon Io |
|||
|
||||
Mar 2 2007, 12:16 AM
Post
#91
|
||
Senior Member Group: Moderator Posts: 3233 Joined: 11-February 04 From: Tucson, AZ Member No.: 23 |
For the mountain lovers, here's a graphic labeling all the mountains, except for the little guy northeast of Gish Bar Patera.
-------------------- &@^^!% Jim! I'm a geologist, not a physicist!
The Gish Bar Times - A Blog all about Jupiter's Moon Io |
|
|
||
Guest_AlexBlackwell_* |
Mar 2 2007, 02:12 AM
Post
#92
|
Guests |
John S. has a nice new glog entry.
|
|
|
Mar 2 2007, 02:41 AM
Post
#93
|
|
SewingMachine Group: Members Posts: 316 Joined: 27-September 05 From: Seattle Member No.: 510 |
Thanks, VP! Io's mountain landforms are strangely more fascinating to me than the volcanoes, but I'm biased in favor of tall stuff.
Here's a link to Schenk and Hargitai's database project for anyone interested: Io Mountain Database Nice work on the colorized pic, Stu! edit: The lighting geometry on the Hi'iaka Montes looks very similar to that seen on Galileo's passes. -------------------- ...if you don't like my melody, i'll sing it in a major key, i'll sing it very happily. heavens! everybody's all aboard? let's take it back to that minor chord...
Exploitcorporations on Flickr (in progress) : https://www.flickr.com/photos/135024395@N07/ |
|
|
Mar 2 2007, 03:52 AM
Post
#94
|
||
Member Group: Members Posts: 204 Joined: 29-June 05 Member No.: 421 |
Here's another take on the changes at Masubi since Galileo. Comparison again is to the Galileo frame that volcanopele posted, flipping back and forth with the latest new LORRI frame. It looks like the current Masubi eruption is spewing primarily from what used to be that corner bend of Masubi Fluctus, with maybe some secondary plume(s) to the east.
|
|
|
||
Mar 2 2007, 04:28 AM
Post
#95
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 204 Joined: 29-June 05 Member No.: 421 |
|
|
|
Mar 2 2007, 04:41 AM
Post
#96
|
||
Senior Member Group: Moderator Posts: 3233 Joined: 11-February 04 From: Tucson, AZ Member No.: 23 |
You have to be kinda careful about colorizing high-phase Io images. Io's colors can change quite dramatically as you increase phase angle.
BTW, thanks for pointing out that the raw images are now up, including the shorter exposed images of Io. Here is the 4 msec exposure image with Shango Patera pointed out: -------------------- &@^^!% Jim! I'm a geologist, not a physicist!
The Gish Bar Times - A Blog all about Jupiter's Moon Io |
|
|
||
Mar 2 2007, 09:24 AM
Post
#97
|
|
Special Cookie Group: Members Posts: 2168 Joined: 6-April 05 From: Sintra | Portugal Member No.: 228 |
-------------------- "Ride, boldly ride," The shade replied, "If you seek for Eldorado!"
Edgar Alan Poe |
|
|
Mar 2 2007, 10:24 AM
Post
#98
|
|
Rover Driver Group: Members Posts: 1015 Joined: 4-March 04 Member No.: 47 |
is this above-average activity on Io or are there always 3 or more volcanoes activily spilling their guts? Amazing little moon
|
|
|
Mar 2 2007, 10:26 AM
Post
#99
|
|
Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 3648 Joined: 1-October 05 From: Croatia Member No.: 523 |
I'd say it's always pretty active. Maybe not huge volcanoes such as Pele or Tvashtar, but smaller ones, yes. And Io's not that small a moon either!
-------------------- |
|
|
Mar 2 2007, 11:18 PM
Post
#100
|
|
Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1619 Joined: 12-February 06 From: Bergerac - FR Member No.: 678 |
A "seven error game"
The image of the left comes from Celestia, I've desatrured it and darken the night side to have a good model comparison. The differences are very small... -------------------- |
|
|
Mar 4 2007, 05:30 PM
Post
#101
|
|
Newbie Group: Members Posts: 2 Joined: 2-March 07 From: Boulder, CO Member No.: 1810 |
The feature that ustrax circled is actually a cosmic ray hit; it's only present in the 20 msec exposure.
|
|
|
Mar 5 2007, 12:20 PM
Post
#102
|
|
Special Cookie Group: Members Posts: 2168 Joined: 6-April 05 From: Sintra | Portugal Member No.: 228 |
The feature that ustrax circled is actually a cosmic ray hit; it's only present in the 20 msec exposure. Thanks plasmatorus and...Welcome! -------------------- "Ride, boldly ride," The shade replied, "If you seek for Eldorado!"
Edgar Alan Poe |
|
|
Mar 7 2007, 10:33 PM
Post
#103
|
|
The Poet Dude Group: Moderator Posts: 5551 Joined: 15-March 04 From: Kendal, Cumbria, UK Member No.: 60 |
HERE BE DRAGONS…
Through your telescopes I am Merely a star, a spark of light that slides And glides ‘round proud Jupiter; One night here, the next night there, Sometimes with company, often alone On Jove’s left or right. One of four Fluttering fireflies flitting silently through The blush of the Red Spot’s glow. But dare to approach me, to brave Jupiter’s Cell-scything rays and you’ll crave The safety of Earth once more, for I am a world Where chemistry screams at the sky And tears at your eyes, with claws Of colour so sharp and so raw You’ll turn your face away and seek The comfort of Callisto’s cratered smile. For where my colder, older brother And sister moons glow shivering shades of blue And grey, my tortured face is painted hues Of fiery red; instead of frigid plains Of painfully pastel tones, my bones lie under Seeping fields of sores and blistering boils. A pox-infected moon am I, a leprous satellite That brings my smooth-skinned family shame. Yet, if they knew my secret, the mysteries I keep hidden from their disapproving View, they would feel envy, for the tangerine- And clementine-hued splashes on my Face are not mere volcanoes, as your Earthly scientists believe, but are great blooms And plumes of fyre, breathed out by beasts Which bathe beneath my Jupiter-racked crust. Maui, Marduk, Loki – dragons all, and with Volund and Pele prowl and crawl thru my sulphurous Churning seas; wings outstretched, tails sweeping To and fro below my scabby-encrusted skin, Swimming, spinning, gorging on my Bitter bile before breaking through to spew Their flaming breath out into space in great Gushes of furious light. What a sight! And what luck you had, sending one of your Nuts and bolts butterflies gliding past me Just as mighty Tvashtar roared, vomiting his Dragonfyre towards the stars, howling with Masubi and Prometheus in a choir of dragons Singing to the Great One’s swirling storms; What fortune to soar through this cloud of worlds On your way to the Belt, and Beyond… © Stuart Atkinson 2007 -------------------- |
|
|
Mar 8 2007, 01:00 AM
Post
#104
|
|
Senior Member Group: Moderator Posts: 3233 Joined: 11-February 04 From: Tucson, AZ Member No.: 23 |
Nice poem! But...
QUOTE A pox-infected moon am I, a leprous satellite That brings my smooth-skinned family shame. Them's fighting words! -------------------- &@^^!% Jim! I'm a geologist, not a physicist!
The Gish Bar Times - A Blog all about Jupiter's Moon Io |
|
|
Mar 8 2007, 02:10 AM
Post
#105
|
|
Merciless Robot Group: Admin Posts: 8784 Joined: 8-December 05 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 602 |
"nuts and bolts butterflies gliding past me"...
Brilliant as usual, O Laureate....thank you! -------------------- A few will take this knowledge and use this power of a dream realized as a force for change, an impetus for further discovery to make less ancient dreams real.
|
|
|
Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 1st June 2024 - 04:25 AM |
RULES AND GUIDELINES Please read the Forum Rules and Guidelines before posting. IMAGE COPYRIGHT |
OPINIONS AND MODERATION Opinions expressed on UnmannedSpaceflight.com are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of UnmannedSpaceflight.com or The Planetary Society. The all-volunteer UnmannedSpaceflight.com moderation team is wholly independent of The Planetary Society. The Planetary Society has no influence over decisions made by the UnmannedSpaceflight.com moderators. |
SUPPORT THE FORUM Unmannedspaceflight.com is funded by the Planetary Society. Please consider supporting our work and many other projects by donating to the Society or becoming a member. |