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Astronomy Picture of the Day - Mercury's Vivaldi Crater from BepiColombo
NASA ^
| 16 Sep, 2024
| Image Credit: ESA, JAXA, BepiColombo, MTM
Posted on 09/16/2024 12:43:52 PM PDT by MtnClimber
Explanation: Why does this large crater on Mercury have two rings and a smooth floor? No one is sure. The unusual feature called Vivaldi Crater spans 215 kilometers and was imaged again in great detail by ESA's and JAXA's robotic BepiColombo spacecraft on a flyby earlier this month. A large circular feature on a rocky planet or moon is usually caused by either an impact by a small asteroid or a comet fragment, or a volcanic eruption. In the case of Vivaldi, it is possible that both occurred -- a heavy strike that caused a smooth internal lava flow. Double-ringed craters are rare, and the cause of the inner rings remains a topic of research. The speed-slowing gravity-assisted flyby of Mercury by BepiColombo was in preparation for the spacecraft entering orbit around the Solar System's innermost planet in 2026.
TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; nasa
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To: MtnClimber
2
posted on
09/16/2024 12:44:10 PM PDT
by
MtnClimber
(For photos of scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page. More photos added.)
To: 21stCenturion; 21twelve; 4everontheRight; abb; AFB-XYZ; AFPhys; Agatsu77; America_Right; ...
Pinging the APOD list
πͺ π π π
3
posted on
09/16/2024 12:44:54 PM PDT
by
MtnClimber
(For photos of scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page. More photos added.)
To: MtnClimber
4
posted on
09/16/2024 1:06:49 PM PDT
by
DannyTN
To: DannyTN
Is Mercury made of canned “meat”? Why wouldn’t the raccoons eat it?
5
posted on
09/16/2024 1:10:48 PM PDT
by
MtnClimber
(For photos of scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page. More photos added.)
To: MtnClimber; DannyTN
I think that the connection does prove that Danny isnβt AI, though.
To: MtnClimber; Empire_of_Liberty
Racoons are probably why Mercury is so much smaller than the other planets.
7
posted on
09/16/2024 1:22:09 PM PDT
by
DannyTN
To: Empire_of_Liberty
Danny could be AI, placed by Russian BOTs, to destroy the USA by making us believe Mercury is a big canned Meat Ball planet.
8
posted on
09/16/2024 1:22:13 PM PDT
by
MtnClimber
(For photos of scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page. More photos added.)
To: MtnClimber
Did you see the pull-tab in the photo? I did. ;-)
To: Empire_of_Liberty
I am glad that NASA put up a real astronomy photo for today. Even if it is for a small planet with a pull tab to get to the meat ball inside. I wish Arnold the Pig was here to evaluate the photo.

Arnold Ziffel - Arnold is a pig whom the Ziffels treat as a son, understands English, lives indoors, and is pampered. Everyone understands Arnold when he grunts, as if he were speaking English, except Oliver. He is an avid TV watcher and a Western fan, attends the local grade school (carrying his book pack in his mouth), and signs his own name on paper. Only Oliver believes Arnold is just livestock, although he frequently slips and begins treating him as a boy. Arnold makes regular appearances throughout the series, often visiting the Douglas home to watch their TV
10
posted on
09/16/2024 1:34:00 PM PDT
by
MtnClimber
(For photos of scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page. More photos added.)
To: MtnClimber
11
posted on
09/16/2024 1:41:44 PM PDT
by
AFB-XYZ
(Two options: 1) Stand up, or 2) Bend over)
To: MtnClimber
I’m surprised that anyone went back to Mercury. The Messenger probe orbited for months taking pictures. I doubt much has changed since then.
12
posted on
09/16/2024 3:20:38 PM PDT
by
Nateman
(Democrats did not strive for fraud friendly voting merely to continue honest elections.)
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