Active Plume Observed at Mercury

[4throck]

This is major news, confirmation that Mercury is geologically active!

http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA16909

Given that possibility and the date of the discovery, the team has already proposed to the International Astronomical Union that the feature be given the name “Poisson d’Avril.”

 

[Kyle]

Because you know someone out there will claim such.

But seriously, this is a great find.

 

[BruceJohnJennerLawso]

This is major news, confirmation that Mercury is geologically active!

http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA16909

Given that possibility and the date of the discovery, the team has already proposed to the International Astronomical Union that the feature be given the name “Poisson d’Avril.”

Beautiful picture :thumbup:. Are we assuming a water geyser of sorts?

 

[Izack]

Beautiful picture :thumbup:. Are we assuming a water geyser of sorts?

Molten rock, according to the article. It is no ice moon in the outer solar system, but Mercury, mote in the eye of the Sun that we are talking about.

 

[TMac3000]

Well, I'd definitely like to check that one out on the third flight to Iron Hill:thumbup: (from orbit, of course)

 

[RisingFury]

Is this an April fools prank? I can't tell from the picture. The picture has already been processed. The blackness you see is completely black, but no CCD creates a completely black picture, even if it's in the dark. Though that noise is easy to remove...

If the picture is genuine, the feature is very large. Rough estimate from the picture gives about 160 km +- 20 km.

 

[Andy44]

Molten rock, according to the article. It is no ice moon in the outer solar system, but Mercury, mote in the eye of the Sun that we are talking about.

The article also says it may be some other material, such as water:

An alternative possibility is that the plume is a "geyser" of volatile materials, analogous to the plume at Saturn's moon Enceladus. Under this scenario, a pocket of volatile-rich material may have been heated by the intrusion of subsurface magma, solar tidal dissipation, or some other process, fueling a geyser-like eruption at the surface. Because of the recent identification of water ice at Mercury's poles, the MESSENGER team is pursuing the idea that water may be involved in the eruption.

I was not aware of water ice on Mercury's poles. The solar system never ceases to amaze.

Is this an April fools prank?

Possible, but if it were so I would expect it to be more amusing, and to be revealed 2 days ago.

 

[orb]

Possible, but if it were so I would expect it to be more amusing, and to be revealed 2 days ago.

http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/gallery/sciencePhotos/image.php?image_id=1133

Release Date: April 1, 2013

{...}

Date acquired: April 1, 2013

{...}

(PS - The MESSENGER Team would like to wish you a Happy April Fools' Day!)

Sky & Telescope: Scientists Have Absurdly Exciting News


And the water on Mercury's poles is actually no joke. It was discovered last year. See the MESSENGER mission news thread for more information.

 

[statickid]

How disappointing and also hilarious

 

[Quick_Nick]

April Fools 2011, it was MESSENGER finding Mariner 10.

 

[4throck]

Yes, April Fool's indeed. I decided to post the image just to make you aware that they did post this into the Planetary Photojournal...

I'm very disappointed by this. NASA should not do official releases of humorous images.
It's OK to put this on a mission's website, because it will be temporary and limited in scope. But to release a Photoshopped image like that, it simply puts them into the same boat as the UFO / ghosts / face on Mars crowd.

:facepalm:

 

[Urwumpe]

No... I think it is good that NASA follows good old traditions. Not making an official April Fools Day joke is much worse IMHO. If you make a good one, you get positive PR. And that is important.

 

[N_Molson]

Ah, scientists jokes...

 

[Mattyv]

I'm not sure I understand: Is this a April Fools Joke? or is it legit.

 

[Artlav]

April Fools Joke.
Look at the proposed name - "Poisson d'Avril".

 

[Pipcard]

Yeah, "Fish of April"?

 

[Ripley]

That's how we call it in some European countries.

 

[N_Molson]

“Poisson d’Avril.”

In french and I missed it :facepalm:

 

[TMac3000]

Me too