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Europe-Japan space mission captures images of Mercury

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When I take pictures of my kids, sometimes I’ll take the “perfect” shot, but then realize that the camera strap or something else had blocked half the picture and mostly ruined the shot.

Knowing how frustrating that is, I can’t imagine how bad it must feel when you’ve invested years of work by top scientists, millions of dollars and travelled more than 100 million kilometers to take a picture of Mercury that is mostly blocked by some random piece of metal!

4 ( +8 / -4 )

Wow! Very impressive.

Congratulations to the teams that made this possible!

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Amazing,

I am hoping that someday future generations will continue to improve the living conditions on earth well enough so they can have a better life, cleaner water, air. and plenty of good food.

Mother earth is by far the most forgiving of all planets.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Are there other planetary systems capable of supporting life? Are we really alone?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Impressive! A black and white photo!

-7 ( +4 / -11 )

The only other planet with a magnetic field, but what about the plethora of moons? A magnetic field is essential if life like we know it is to arise and survive…and evolve

2 ( +5 / -3 )

If the young families, single mothers, 40% underclass and lost generation, as titled and described in another article today, should ever wonder where their money went, I have a little guess and hint. We should quickly learn to eat black-and-white photos from far away, shouldn’t we? lol

-9 ( +2 / -11 )

This isn't just about "a picture". Of course, you know there's a LOT more going on here than just providing you with something interesting to look at (which is still really COOL, and I'm glad I'm alive to see such things taking place.)

Besides "just pictures", the Orbiter contains a payload of 11 instruments, comprising cameras, spectrometers (IR, UV, X-ray, γ-ray, neutron), a radiometer, a laser altimeter, a magnetometer, particle analysers, a Ka-band transponder, and an accelerometer. We're going to learn a LOT because of this investment.

As for all those "underclass and lost generation" "victims"? Well. The TOTAL cost of this entire BepiColombo was estimated in 2017 as...2 Billion USD. Now, take that 2 billion (and cancel any further direct learning about Mercury), and let's be "altruistic" and divide "their money" up among this alleged Japanese "lost generation".

2 Billion Dollars will get your 40%, or 50 million "underclass" dwellers in Japan?...a whopping 4,400 Yen each to spend...Wow? Then, they'll go back to being your "lost generation" again tomorrow...(and we've only money for Japan's "underclass", mind you, NOT for Europe's!)

Rather than another handout that DOESN'T SOLVE ANYTHING, this 2 billion WILL help us learn so much more crucial information about our World, our Solar System, and our especially our mysterious "Water Planet", (水星), Mercury.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

An incredible waste of money. *lifeless rock. Mercury offers of not much scientifically.

https://time.com/2958731/mercury-peculiar-solar-system/

Interesting read above.

If life is to be discovered it is not going to be in our range of planets. But I bet life exists somewhere in the Milkyway galaxy. I think were allot closer to finding life once we figure out travel at interstellar speeds.

Or folding and bending space.

Besides "just pictures", the Orbiter contains a payload of 11 instruments, comprising cameras, spectrometers (IR, UV, X-ray, γ-ray, neutron), a radiometer, a laser altimeter, a magnetometer, particle analyzers, a Ka-band transponder, and an accelerometer. We're going to learn a LOT because of this investment.

More power and equipment Scottie.

She cant take anymore Captain, I am giving her all she's got.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Perhaps @Slickdrifter 2:41pm with that melange of instruments they may find a source of something useful f…

“…or folding and bending space. 

the Orbiter contains a payload of 11 instruments, cameras, spectrometers (IR, UV, X-ray, γ-ray, neutron), a radiometer, a laser altimeter, a magnetometer, particle analyzers, a Ka-band transponder, and an accelerometer. We're going to learn a LOT because of this investment.

I think were allot closer to finding life once we figure out travel at interstellar speeds.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Hito Bito, you are entirely correct. Sadly the ignorant are always with us. Some people will always walk looking down complaining about the mud, the rest lift their eyes to see the beauty of the world and the stars and thus can see how to resolve the problems the mud gazers just repeatedly trip over.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Mercury looks like another moon.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Looks like a planet that experienced extreme global warming !

Mercury now is a da-kine warning to what will become of our own Earth once the mighty Amazon goes bald and dry!

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

like a planet that experienced extreme global warming

Of course it’s exactly the opposite, because the sun lost and loses heating power over time and that planet there even changed from a glowing plasma ball into one with a solid surface, so that now also our equipment can dare to fly nearby and make photographs.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I would like to point out that the scientists and supporting staff have been earning a decent living with this project as well, and returning much of that in taxes. So it's not so clear cut that the money is gone and we get no benefit. Advancement of knowledge is vital to continue life support on Earth.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

englisc aspyrgendOct. 3  06:13 pm JST

Hito Bito, you are entirely correct. Sadly the ignorant are always with us. Some people will always walk looking down complaining about the mud, the rest lift their eyes to see the beauty of the world and the stars and thus can see how to resolve the problems the mud gazers just repeatedly trip over.

it's been human nature to be curious. Man has always been curious and searching for knowledge. Knowledge is freedom.

bob91343Oct. 4  02:31 am JST

I would like to point out that the scientists and supporting staff have been earning a decent living with this project as well, and returning much of that in taxes. So it's not so clear cut that the money is gone and we get no benefit. Advancement of knowledge is vital to continue life support on Earth.

Mercury is the closest planet to the sun. We're studying and learning about other worlds because it's essential. One day after the sun runs out of helium it will evolve into a red giant and we will have to leave. Mercury (and Venus) can give us clues. the more we explore, the more we explore, the more we know, the more we can do in the far future to do what we will need to do.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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