Rev 49 - Aug 9-Sep 14, 2007 - Iapetus I1, The only close flyby of Iapetus |
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Rev 49 - Aug 9-Sep 14, 2007 - Iapetus I1, The only close flyby of Iapetus |
 Sep 10 2007, 06:52 AM
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#31
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 Member  Group: Members Posts: 809 Joined: 11-March 04 Member No.: 56  |
I just can't get over the strangeness of that mountain chain so abruptly interrupting the otherwise smooth curve of Iapetus' horizon. It is unnatural -- and yet wonderful, too.
And yes, there does seem to be a linear feature running parallel to the equator. Maybe more than one. That makes the phenomenon all the stranger. |
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Sep 10 2007, 09:58 AM
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#32
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 Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 3534 Joined: 1-October 05 From: Croatia Member No.: 523 |
I was struck by how lumpy this body is as seen in this overexposed image. Another thing is the 3 stars visible aren't streaks at all despite longer exposure. Cassini was obviously tracking Iapetus and the stillness of the stars suggests Iapetus wasn't moving in Cassini's windshield much at the time - more or less just growing bigger and bigger.
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Sep 10 2007, 10:14 AM
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#33
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 The Poet Dude Group: Moderator Posts: 5546 Joined: 15-March 04 From: Kendal, Cumbria, UK Member No.: 60 |
Thought I'd have a go, everyone else is going to!
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 Sep 10 2007, 11:07 AM
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#34
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 3534 Joined: 1-October 05 From: Croatia Member No.: 523 |
Wow!!! http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/imag...iImageID=126214
This is it, at 62 000 km it's already twice the resolution we ever got! Just look at that rigde, like some alien spine creeping around the moon! Where's that swear bucket when you need it? -------------------- |
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Sep 10 2007, 11:20 AM
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#35
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Member Group: Members Posts: 435 Joined: 24-March 04 From: Finland Member No.: 63 |
Amazing views and it's only going to get better.
I don't actually remember, how high are the peaks in the mountain ridge? -------------------- Antti Kuosmanen
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Sep 10 2007, 11:36 AM
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#36
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 IMG to PNG GOD Group: Moderator Posts: 1323 Joined: 19-February 04 From: Near fire and ice Member No.: 38 |
The highest ones are about 20 km high.
Not unexpectedly, that ridge looks ancient. At a quick glance it seems just as heavily cratered as the terrain near the ridge. I noticed several 'black' images. I hope these are Saturnshine shots that the automatic contrast stretch didn't handle well and not images where Iapetus got missed. The fact that they are all CL1/CL2 suggests the former may be the case. |
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Sep 10 2007, 11:58 AM
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#37
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 Member Group: Members Posts: 267 Joined: 28-September 05 From: Orion arm Member No.: 516 |
QUOTE (Bjorn Jonsson @ Sep 10 2007, 01:36 PM)  I noticed several 'black' images. I hope these are Saturnshine shots that the automatic contrast stretch didn't handle well and not images where Iapetus got missed. The fact that they are all CL1/CL2 suggests the former may be the case. Looks like saturnshine pics:   Much noise in there... Till later... |
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Sep 10 2007, 12:02 PM
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#38
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The Poet Dude Group: Moderator Posts: 5546 Joined: 15-March 04 From: Kendal, Cumbria, UK Member No.: 60 |
Am I seeing things that aren't actually there, or is there a parallel feature running alongside the main ridge on both sides..?
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Sep 10 2007, 12:04 PM
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#39
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 3534 Joined: 1-October 05 From: Croatia Member No.: 523 |
I believe the 10 consecutive "black" images are part of ISS_049IA_SATUSHINE001_PRIME:
QUOTE Saturnshine (landslide crater): - Eight long exp. 32s (fullres., g=3); two 2sum (46s + 32s, g=3) I suspect they're black because cosmic noise confused the histogram stretcher. Saturn is in a more favorable saturnshine phase now, ~35° (rev B/C was ~70°). Funny how we're seeing WAC frames now similar in resolution to what NAC saw a couple of days ago: QUOTE - WAC clr 260ms (straylight test) + 120ms (both WACs in BOTSIMs) Except WAC PSF makes everything look blurrier. -------------------- |
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Sep 10 2007, 12:18 PM
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#40
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 4516 Joined: 5-April 05 From: Canada Member No.: 227 |
Here's the view with saturnshine on the limb. A composite of three frames.
Phil
-------------------- ... because the Solar System ain't gonna map itself.
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Sep 10 2007, 12:26 PM
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#41
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 3534 Joined: 1-October 05 From: Croatia Member No.: 523 |
Phil, I don't know why, but that composite reminds me of Voyager 2 Triton encounter for some reason.
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Sep 10 2007, 12:36 PM
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#42
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Member Group: Members Posts: 501 Joined: 2-July 05 From: Calgary, Alberta Member No.: 426 |
QUOTE (ugordan @ Sep 10 2007, 06:26 AM) Phil, I don't know why, but that composite reminds me of Voyager 2 Triton encounter for some reason. Probably 'cause Iapetus' black streaking resembles the wind-blown geyser plumes. Also: Stu, that's an interesting observation about the attendant linear features paralleling the main bellyband. The one on the right looks like it might be just a fortuitous arrangement of craters -- but it does seem that there might be something there. |
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Sep 10 2007, 01:36 PM
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#43
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2253 Joined: 30-October 04 Member No.: 105 |
Today's the day and I'm absolutely a-bubble with excitement. Dreamt last night that the dark material on Iapetus was billions and billions of 2x3x5 (or 4x9x25) meter-tall black monoliths...
And Oppy is getting ready for the entry into Victoria. Can life get much better? --Bill -------------------- |
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Sep 10 2007, 02:03 PM
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#44
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 Senior Member Group: Moderator Posts: 2817 Joined: 11-February 04 From: Tucson, AZ Member No.: 23 |
Well, I guess you guys get the real-time feed... interesting.
Stu, the ridges parallel to the main ridge were seen during the New Year's 2005 encounter. According to Giese et al. (in press in Icarus), these are caused by flexure as the heavy load of the ridge is supported by the thick lithosphere. -------------------- &@^^!% Jim! I'm a geologist, not a physicist!
The Gish Bar Times - A Blog all about Jupiter's Moon Io |
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Sep 10 2007, 02:05 PM
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#45
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 3534 Joined: 1-October 05 From: Croatia Member No.: 523 |
QUOTE (volcanopele @ Sep 10 2007, 03:03 PM) Well, I guess you guys get the real-time feed... interesting. What do you mean by this? P.S. Bill, it can always be even better! -------------------- |
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