Dawn's last mission extensions at Ceres, From XMO3 to EOM |
Dawn's last mission extensions at Ceres, From XMO3 to EOM |
Feb 1 2017, 02:37 PM
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Member Group: Members Posts: 544 Joined: 17-November 05 From: Oklahoma Member No.: 557 |
This thread will cover all final phases of the Dawn mission, the end of which is not certain at this point.
XMO3 was suppose to be the final orbit, but now plans have changed and it will move into a new higher altitude and higher phase orbit soon. This will be XMO4. An interesting monthly journal for January details the plan: Dawn Journal 31 January 2017 |
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Feb 6 2017, 12:39 AM
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Member Group: Members Posts: 495 Joined: 12-February 12 Member No.: 6336 |
@Gladstoner: You might indeed have pointed out Ahuna mons predecessor there.
But yes, it cannot be ruled out that it's associated with the current formation. We just have to wait for the verdict by the professionals. Regardless of which two it turn out to be, I don't think it's coincidental. What is interesting is the comparatively short timeframe for a feature like this to relax and get near invisible. If it is lets say 10 MY, that would mean that there's some ongoing activity inside Ceres to create a feature like Ahuna mons. The big question then will be if it's continuous or periodical. Well this higher altitude orbit might perhaps get us a chance to catch an image of the possible fog over Occator. Backlit by the Sun would be the best way to catch it just as on Enceladus. |
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