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The Circumnavigation of Mercury
- Thread starter Andrew Linton
- Start date
Having to get creative in order to measure the angular distance between Venus and Jupiter - this is probably the last such measurement. I lay the SRV on its side and went into the free camera to get the view shown here. Then I righted the scarab and measured the angular distance between two prominent stars which did fall within the range of the clinometer. The clinometer is shown inset. The distance measured was 8.7 degrees.
I measured the distance in millimetres on the screen between those two stars and between Venus and Jupiter. The measurements were 42mm and 39mm respectively. I deduce that the angular separation of Venus and Jupiter at this location and time was:
x = (39/42) * 8.7
x = 8.1 degrees
This is in contrast with the 6.6 degrees measured at 12:50 and the decreasing trend seen to that time.
Either Venus is moving away from Jupiter or the method is flawed.
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11 degree travelled today; 468km. 287 degrees travelled, which makes the circumnavigation 80% complete. 73 degrees remaining.
12,221km travelled; 3,108km remaining.
11 degree travelled today; 468km. 287 degrees travelled, which makes the circumnavigation 80% complete. 73 degrees remaining.
12,221km travelled; 3,108km remaining.
I would welcome the company for a degree or two. My current estimated completion date is 06Sep3306. Fly, safely or dangerously, that's up to you.
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Despite the waypoint of this degree looking quite flat, I've just passed through some rugged mountains the peaks of which were visible from about 10km away. Remember that the horizon on Mercury is closer than on Earth; usually I can see features that are only a couple of kilometres away.
Despite the waypoint of this degree looking quite flat, I've just passed through some rugged mountains the peaks of which were visible from about 10km away. Remember that the horizon on Mercury is closer than on Earth; usually I can see features that are only a couple of kilometres away.
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I think that's the Andromeda galaxy on a bearing of 060.
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Made it to the last big milestone, and all before breakfast.
At two degrees per hour, there are 35 hours of driving still to do.
Made it to the last big milestone, and all before breakfast.
At two degrees per hour, there are 35 hours of driving still to do.
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This is the graphic I've been looking forward to, showing me I'm on the home straight:
This is the graphic I've been looking forward to, showing me I'm on the home straight:
In his book, Sailing Alone Around The World, Joshua Slocum describes how, in the Straits of Magellan - a wild and desolate place - he discovers he has brought a spider on board.
In a strange parallel, I found this chap among my dwindling food supplies.
In a strange parallel, I found this chap among my dwindling food supplies.
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Well, I've been in the Jura and the Alps, but it was the Himalayas to reach this waypoint. I really did need in-flight repair.
Well, I've been in the Jura and the Alps, but it was the Himalayas to reach this waypoint. I really did need in-flight repair.
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The impact crater I've driven through during the last two degrees must have been over 60km in diameter. There was a central peak but I chose not to go to it, having already used 4 repairs to reach the crater floor.
The impact crater I've driven through during the last two degrees must have been over 60km in diameter. There was a central peak but I chose not to go to it, having already used 4 repairs to reach the crater floor.
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Easy driving, compared with a few degrees ago.
Easy driving, compared with a few degrees ago.
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I'm getting closer to The Big One. It seems to be smack bang on the equator so I should be able to get a good measurement of its diameter as I drive across it. My first estimate will be when I'm one diameter away to the West. I'll note the longitude and then take the longitude at the crest of the rim. I will try to pass between those two craters which look to be bigger, and no doubt more mountainous, than the one I passed through earlier Earthtoday.
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I've reverted to the smaller waypoint image so I don't need to resize in order to record progress here.
Position relative to the large crater I'm approaching.
I don't think this can be the Caloris basin which is located at: 30.5°N 189.8°W.
I've reverted to the smaller waypoint image so I don't need to resize in order to record progress here.
Position relative to the large crater I'm approaching.
I don't think this can be the Caloris basin which is located at: 30.5°N 189.8°W.
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The lighting on the sysmap changes quite a lot, in this case obscuring many large craters.
The lighting on the sysmap changes quite a lot, in this case obscuring many large craters.