[X] My Assistant

[jasedm]

I feel a bit like a caretaker sweeping up in the background, what with all this Messenger Mercury activity, but here goes :
The Ciclops looking-ahead detail has been posted for Cassini's Rev 56, disappointingly, no Methone observations are slated (closest we get from here on in) but I'm sure there's a good reason.
Interestingly, they list two 'calibration sequences' for the NAC just prior to apoapse when there will be a 'stare' into the (relative) blackness of space to determine camera sensitivity, and any damage to the optics. I presume that this is so that any lens anomalies can be subtracted from subsequent images. Strikes me as good housekeeping what with the lull in Titan observations until 22nd Feb.
Ok, as you were, back to my sweeping (GO MESSENGER!!!!)

[jasedm]

Thanks Em for the clarification. This means that the two remaining Methone closest approaches are:
1) 11th January 2010 - Altitude 27,175, Phase 145 degrees
2) 18th May 2010 - Altitude 18,453, Phase 75 degrees (27 NAC pixels assuming image taken at C/A)
The latter is comparable to the best current image of Calypso (31 pixels) and has a good phase angle to highlight topography.
Here's hoping that an allowance has been made to image this moon at or near closest approach on that date.

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[ugordan]

You can probably scratch 1) off the list, too, jasedm. That's a really high phase angle.