Re: [meteorite-list] Iron slice etching questions
Hi Shawn, I have used Ron's technique with great success. It takes practice to learn the timing. To answer your other question, yes, acetone works well to remove a lacquer clear coat from an iron and does not damage the piece. A toothbrush helps get lacquer out of cracks. Matthew Martin Meteorite Treasures www.meteoritetreasures.com __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] NASA SDO - The June 7th Prominence Eruption
This really is an amazing must see video from NASA SDO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rev8vHjBq88 Cheers, Jeff Kuyken Meteorites Australia www.meteorites.com.au __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Meteor
Dear List Members, For those living in Australia: http://lunarmeteoritehunters.blogspot.com/2011/06/breaking-news-mbiq-meteor-bot-internet.html Best Always, Dirk RossTokyo __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] AD - Meteoritics Journals, Spider in Amber, New Rare Ambers, Low-Stock Unclassified Olivine Diogenite, more!
Hi Friends, Collectors, and Innocent Passersby, I have some interesting new offerings worth taking a look at this week. :) Use coupon code metlist for 20% off all prices. I have some recent MAPS journals to offer, including a special 2007 issue that deals with Ernst Chladni and the history of modern meteoritics. This is a great issue that provides a crash course in modern meteorite science and it's development over the years. I also acquired some new pieces of amber from a European collector. These pieces include some high-quality specimens from newly-opened mines in Indonesia. Many of these amber types are not commonly available and my supply is very limited. I also have a super-rare piece of Dominican Blue amber that is not listed on the website yet, because I am not sure if I want to sell it. If a serious amberphile is reading this and wants to inquire about the blue specimen, just reply to this email and I might be persuaded to sell it. :) MAPS Chladni Meteoritics issue - http://www.galactic-stone.com/product/maps-journal-meteoritics-planetary-science-042011 MAPS 04/2011 - http://www.galactic-stone.com/product/maps-journal-meteoritics-planetary-science-032011 MAPS 03/2011 - http://www.galactic-stone.com/product/maps-journal-meteoritics-planetary-science-022011 MAPS 02/2011 - http://www.galactic-stone.com/product/maps-journal-meteoritics-planetary-science-012011-1 MAPS 01/2011 - http://www.galactic-stone.com/product/maps-journal-meteoritics-planetary-science-012011 Baltic Amber with rare Spider(!) inclusion - http://www.galactic-stone.com/product/baltic-amber-polished-specimen-with-insect-26-carats-1 Baltic Amber with long-legged Fly inclusion - http://www.galactic-stone.com/product/baltic-amber-polished-specimen-with-insect-26-carats Big Gemmy Sumatran amber - http://www.galactic-stone.com/product/sumatran-amber--rarely-offered-big-raw-specimen Java amber - http://www.galactic-stone.com/product/java-amber--rare-type-from-indonesia-big-978g Rare Sulawesi amber - http://www.galactic-stone.com/product/sulawesi-amber-rare-type-from-indonesia-big-978g-1 Stunning Papua New Guinea amber - http://www.galactic-stone.com/product/papua-amber-rare-species-from-indonesia-949g Unusual White Borneo amber - http://www.galactic-stone.com/product/papua-new-guinea-amber-rare-type-from-indonesia-734g Sudbury Mine Ore (all breccia is sold out, but I still have some ore) - http://www.galactic-stone.com/product/sudbury-crater-mine-ore-rich-in-rare-metals-iridium NWA 2932 mesosiderite (low stock) - http://www.galactic-stone.com/product/nwa-2932-saharan-mesosiderite-low-tkw-micros LAST big piece (not a crumb) of unclassified olivine diogenite (likely paired with NWA 5480) - http://www.galactic-stone.com/product/unclassified-possible-olivine-diogenite-see-description-1g-slice If you have any questions, or problems with checkout, contact me - meteoritem...@gmail.com Thanks for looking and have a great weekend! MikeG -- - Galactic Stone Ironworks - Meteorites Amber (Michael Gilmer) Website - http://www.galactic-stone.com Facebook - http://tinyurl.com/42h79my News Feed - http://www.galactic-stone.com/rss/126516 Twitter - http://twitter.com/galacticstone EOM - http://www.encyclopedia-of-meteorites.com/collection.aspx?id=1564 - __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] MESSENGER Endures Its First Hot Season
http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/news_room/details.php?id=172 MESSENGER Mission News June 13, 2011 MESSENGER Endures Its First Hot Season Yesterday the MESSENGER spacecraft successfully completed the first of four hot seasons expected to occur during its one-year primary mission in orbit about Mercury. During these hot seasons, the Sun-facing side of the probe's sunshade can reach temperatures as high as 350°C. These hot conditions are the result of two concurrent circumstances, says MESSENGER Mission Systems Engineer Eric Finnegan, of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Md. Mercury is in an eccentric orbit, and its distance from the Sun varies over 88 days, from 43,689,229 miles to 28,816,300 miles, he explains. On May 13, Mercury began heading closer to the Sun in its orbit. The planet reached its closest distance from the Sun on June 12. The second contributor to this heat is the geometry of MESSENGER's orbit relative to the hot dayside of Mercury. The spacecraft is in a highly eccentric orbit around the planet, approaching to within 310 miles of the surface every 12 hours. During this hot period, the closest point of approach of the spacecraft to Mercury's surface occurs on the sunlit side of the planet, so for almost one hour per orbit the spacecraft must pass between the Sun on one side and the hot dayside surface of the planet on the other, Finnegan says. To add further extremes, this season is also when the spacecraft passes over the nightside of the planet at high elevations and experiences the longest solar eclipses of the mission. During this period, when eclipses last as long as 62 minutes per orbit, the solar arrays are not illuminated and the spacecraft must derive its power from its internal battery. High temperatures are always a risk to mechanical and electronic systems, and the geometry of this portion of the orbit severely constrains the ability of the spacecraft to cool itself by radiating heat to cold space. MESSENGER engineers have taken several steps to ensure that the spacecraft remains safe. We rotated the solar arrays off the Sun through some of the hottest points so they do not have a view to either the Sun or the hot, dayside surface of the planet, Finnegan says. We are power cycling some of the more sensitive instruments to reduce their internal heat dissipation. In a manner similar to the treatment of the solar arrays, we are also adjusting the attitude of the spacecraft to keep some of the more sensitive parts of the spacecraft from seeing the hottest parts of the planet's surface. All of the instruments have been operating during this period. Finnegan says that there have been times during each orbit when instruments are turned off, however, mostly to conserve power during eclipses. These conditions are expected to recur approximately every 88 days (i.e., the time it takes Mercury to orbit the Sun). MESSENGER can therefore look forward to three more hot seasons during the course of its primary mission. MESSENGER (MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging) is a NASA-sponsored scientific investigation of the planet Mercury and the first space mission designed to orbit the planet closest to the Sun. The MESSENGER spacecraft launched on August 3, 2004, and entered orbit about Mercury on March 17, 2011 (March 18, 2011 UTC), to begin a yearlong study of its target planet. Dr. Sean C. Solomon, of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, leads the mission as Principal Investigator. The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory built and operates the MESSENGER spacecraft and manages this Discovery-class mission for NASA. __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Mars Odyssey THEMIS Images: June 13-17, 2011
MARS ODYSSEY THEMIS IMAGES June 13-17, 2011 o Ganges Chasma (13 June 2011) http://themis.asu.edu/node/5663 o Ius Chasma (14 June 2011) http://themis.asu.edu/node/5664 o Gale Crater (15 June 2011) http://themis.asu.edu/node/5665 o South Polar Layers (16 June 2011) http://themis.asu.edu/node/5666 o Channels (17 June 2011) http://themis.asu.edu/node/5667 All of the THEMIS images are archived here: http://themis.asu.edu/latest.html NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory manages the 2001 Mars Odyssey mission for NASA's Office of Space Science, Washington, D.C. The Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) was developed by Arizona State University, Tempe, in co.oration with Raytheon Santa Barbara Remote Sensing. The THEMIS investigation is led by Dr. Philip Christensen at Arizona State University. Lockheed Martin Astronautics, Denver, is the prime contractor for the Odyssey project, and developed and built the orbiter. Mission operations are conducted jointly from Lockheed Martin and from JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] MESSENGER's Data Offers Insights on Inner Planet
NEWS RELEASE FROM THE PLANETARY SCIENCE INSTITUTE FROM: Alan Fischer Public Information Officer Planetary Science Institute 520-382-0411 520-622-6300 fisc...@psi.edu MESSENGER's Data Offers Insights on Inner Planet June 16, 2011 The Mercury MESSENGER spacecraft has discovered a wealth of new information, including a few scientific surprises, after orbiting the planet closest to the sun for almost three months. After MESSENGER's historic entry into orbit around Mercury on March 18, instruments aboard the spacecraft have provided researchers with new data on the planet's geochemistry, geophysics, geologic history, atmosphere, magnetosphere, and plasma environment. The Magnetometer instrument on the spacecraft has shown that the magnetic field of Mercury is much like that of the Earth in that it has a north pole and south pole, each approximately aligned with the opposite geographic pole. However, unlike on Earth, the magnetic equator on Mercury is systematically offset about 480 kilometers northward of Mercury's geographic equator. This is an exciting result that suggests something fundamentally different about what processes play a key role in the generation of Mercury's magnetic field compared with those important to Earth's magnetic field, said Catherine Johnson, Planetary Science Institute senior scientist, University of British Columbia professor of geophysics and MESSENGER mission participating scientist. The result may have important implications for the internal dynamics of the planet and how the planet cools today. Other PSI researchers working on the MESSENGER mission include Deborah Domingue Lorin, William Feldman, Robert Gaskell, Faith Vilas and Elizabeth Jensen. With MESSENGER'S instruments performing the first complete reconnaissance of Mercury, major features on the planet - previously seen only at comparatively low resolution - are now in sharp focus. Measurements of the chemical composition of Mercury's surface are providing important clues to the origin of the planet and its geological history. Maps of the planet's topography and magnetic field are revealing new clues to Mercury's interior dynamical processes. And scientists now know that bursts of energetic particles in Mercury's magnetosphere are a continuing product of the interaction of Mercury's magnetic field with the solar wind. MESSENGER has passed a number of milestones just this week, said MESSENGER principal investigator Sean Solomon of the Carnegie Institution of Washington. We completed our first perihelion passage from orbit on Sunday, our first Mercury year in orbit on Monday, our first superior solar conjunction from orbit on Tuesday, and our first orbit-correction maneuver on Wednesday. Those milestones provide important context to the continuing feast of new observations that MESSENGER has been sending home on nearly a daily basis. As part of MESSENGER's global imaging campaign, the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS) is acquiring global monochrome and stereo base maps with an average resolution of 250 meters per pixel and a global color base map at an average of 1.2 kilometer per pixel. These base maps are providing the first global look at the planet under optimal viewing conditions. The broad expanses of plains near Mercury's north pole seen in orbital imaging confirm that volcanism shaped much of Mercury's crust and continued through much of Mercury's history. MESSENGER's new orbital images show that the plains are likely among the largest expanses of volcanic deposits on Mercury, with thicknesses of up to several kilometers The X-Ray Spectrometer (XRS) - one of two instruments on MESSENGER designed to measure the abundances of many key elements on Mercury - has made several important discoveries since the orbital mission began. The magnesium/silicon, aluminum/silicon, and calcium/silicon ratios averaged over large areas of the planet's surface show that, unlike the surface of the moon, Mercury's surface is not dominated by feldspar-rich rocks. XRS observations have also revealed substantial amounts of sulfur at Mercury's surface, lending support to prior suggestions from ground-based telescopic spectral observations that sulfide minerals are present. This discovery suggests that the original building blocks from which Mercury was assembled may have been less oxidized than those that formed the other terrestrial planets, and it has potentially important implications for understanding the nature of volcanism on Mercury. MESSENGER's Gamma-Ray and Neutron Spectrometer has detected the decay of radioactive isotopes of potassium and thorium and has allowed a determination of the bulk abundances of these elements. MESSENGER's Mercury Laser Altimeter has been systematically mapping the topography of Mercury's northern hemisphere. After more than 2 million laser-ranging observations, the planet's large-scale shape and profiles of geological features are both being revealed in high detail. The northpolar region
[meteorite-list] Mars Rover Opportunity Update: June 9-16, 2011
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status.html OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Solar Panels Cleaned: 19-Mile Mark Reached! - sols 2622-2628, June 9-16, 2011: Opportunity continues to make excellent progress towards Endeavour crater with under 3 kilometers (nearly 2 miles) to go before the first landfall on the rim. On Sols 2622, 2626, 2627 and 2628 (June 9, 14, 15 and 16, 2011), the rover drove over 345 meters (1,132 feet) backwards using a combination of blind driving and autonomous navigation. Opportunity has been driving towards the south/southeast, passing by interesting craters along the way. Currently, the rover is passing through a strewn field of crater impacts, suspected to be all from the same air fall event. On Sol 2625 (June 12, 2011), additional diagnostic tests were run on the miniature thermal emission spectrometer (Mini-TES) instrument. The results are providing further insights into the instrument's anomalous behavior. The rover has benefitted from some recent dust cleaning events on Sols 2627 and 2628 (June 15 and 16, 2011). As of Sol 2628 (June 16, 2011), solar array energy production increased to 528 watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.782 and the solar array dust factor improved to 0.652. Total odometry is 30,815.10 meters (30.82 kilometers, or 19.15 miles). __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Site Promotion: ebay Sellers check info
Dear ebay Sellers, Of our 1100+ daily visitors to meteorite.com, about 10% are entering via our ebay page. http://www.meteorite.com/ebay/ Please reply to this email if: 1. Your information needs updating. 2. You need to be added. 3. You would like to be removed. This is a free service. Thank you, Paul Harris Jim Tobin The Meteorite Exchange, Inc. http://www.meteorite.com/ __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Phobos Slips Past Jupiter (Mars Express)
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMJ53E1XOG_index_0.html Phobos slips past Jupiter European Space Agency 17 June 2011 Earlier this month, ESA's Mars Express performed a special manoeuvre to observe an unusual alignment of Jupiter and the martian moon Phobos. The impressive images have now been processed into a movie of this rare event. At the moment when Mars Express, Phobos, and Jupiter aligned on 1 June 2011, there was a distance of 11 389 km between the spacecraft and Phobos, and a further 529 million km to Jupiter. The High Resolution Stereo Camera on Mars Express was kept fixed on Jupiter for the conjunction, ensuring that the planet remained static in the frame. The operation returned a total of 104 images over a period of 68 seconds, all of them taken using the camera's super-resolution channel. By knowing the exact moment when Jupiter passed behind Phobos, the observation will help to verify and even improve our knowledge of the orbital position of the martian moon. The images shown here were processed at the Department of Planetary Sciences and Remote Sensing at the Institute of Geological Sciences of the Freie Universität Berlin. [Images] Conjunction: before, during and after [Graphics] Paths of Phobos and Mars Express Phobos and Mars Express [Image] Phobos and Jupiter in 3D __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Mercury question
Carl, List, Only one Mercury question? What is revealed from the first bulk composition scans is that Mercury surface, and presumably its crust, is composed of high-potassium non-feldspar rocks. In a word, Mercury is nothing like it's supposed to be. Mercury appears to have been made (the rock part) from high-volatile stuff, a notion that stands everything everybody has ever thought about Mercury on its head. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrBCExa2Rgwfeature=player_embedded Being non--field-geologically literate, I would like somebody on the List to post a list of Earthly high-potassium non-feldspar rocks rich in sulfur. I suppose that would be a bunch of high-potassium metallic sulfides, because one of the things we're seeing is a lot of sulfur on the surface of Mercury. Those yellow markings and stains in the photos? I don't think anybody ever thought Mercury would be a place rich in volatiles -- completely illogical. Welcome to the Real World... When I started out every book said the craters on the Moon were volcanoes. We spent a noticeable amount of the time we were actually ON the Moon looking for the evidence for lunar volcanoes. There aren't any volcanoes on the Moon. In one of the early Messenger flyby's there was a featured imaged called Spider crater. I posted here that I was pretty sure it was a caldera volcano. Now it appears that a lot of the craters on Mercury MAY be volcanoes. It would ironic (at the least) if we were to go from Moon volcanoes that are really impacts all the way to Mercury impacts that are really volcanoes! http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/17/science/space/17mercury.html Even better would be if Mercurian volcanoes were caused by impacts, because every geophysicist on Earth rejects the notion that impacts could cause volcanoes (and flood basalts). As long as we are going to be wrong about most things, why not be wrong about everything? (I love that NYTimes headline Close Up, Mercury Is Less Boring. Well, Earth Monkeys, at least it's not as boring as the NYTimes... Oh, the other thing is that the magnetic field of Mercury is bigger (stronger) at one pole than the other pole, just in case there's not already enough weirdness. I have an easy explanation; Mercury's core is EGG-SHAPED. Huh? Or two imperfectly merged cores of differing sizes from a giant impact that did not completely differentiate after the event. And let's not even get close to the question of how a volatile-rich planet with a huge iron core could FORM this close to the Sun... Sterling K. Webb --- - Original Message - From: cdtuc...@cox.net To: meteoritelist meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Sent: Thursday, June 16, 2011 5:41 PM Subject: [meteorite-list] Mercury question List, I have a question. With this new data from MESSENGER about the surface composition of Mercury; http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/news_room/details.php?id=174 What does this mean it terms of what a meteorite would be expected to look like? Would it be metallic -ish? Anyone, Thanks. Carl Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for dinner. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.? __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Manmade Fireball: ATV Preparing for Fiery Destruction
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMAX1E1XOG_index_0.html ATV preparing for fiery destruction European Space Agency 17 June 2011 ATV Johannes Kepler has been an important part of the International Space Station since February. Next week, it will complete its mission by undocking and burning up harmlessly in the atmosphere high over an uninhabited area of the Pacific Ocean. Serving the International Space Station is a valuable job but it will come to a spectacular end: ESA's second Automated Transfer Vehicle, packed with Station rubbish, will deliberately plummet to its destruction on Tuesday in Earth's atmosphere. Just like the tonnes of natural space debris that collide with our planet every day, the 10-tonne ferry will burn up on reentry. Only a few hardy pieces might survive and splash into the uninhabited South Pacific. The area's air and sea traffic has been warned and a no-fly zone will prevent any accidents. The racks inside ATV have been filled with some 1200 kg of waste bags and unwanted hardware by the crew. Mission so far ATV Johannes Kepler delivered about seven tonnes of much-needed supplies to the Space Station, including 1170 kg of dry cargo, 100 kg of oxygen, 851 kg of propellants to replenish the Station tanks and 4535 kg of fuel for the ferry itself to boost the outpost's altitude and make other adjustments. ATV-2 manoeuvred the complex on 2 April to avoid a collision with space debris. During the hectic mission of Johannes Kepler, two Space Shuttles and Japan's HTV cargo carrier visited the Station, along with two Progress and Soyuz spacecraft. These required several changes of Station attitude, mostly controlled by ATV's thrusters. Big boosts and preparations for dive ATV's last important task was to give the Station's orbit a big boost. One important sequence was performed 12 June, another on 15 June and the last one this afternoon, 17 June. The combined effect of these manoeuvres was to raise the Station's orbit to around 380 km. The crew will close the hatches between the Station and ATV-2 on Sunday afternoon at 15:30 GMT (17:30 CEST). Undocking follows on Monday, at 14:51 GMT (16:51 CEST), with ATV's thrusters gently increasing the distance from the outpost. On 21 June, Johannes Kepler will fire its engines twice to descend from orbit. The first burn, at 17:07 GMT (19:07 CEST) will drop it towards Earth. The second burn, at 20:05 GMT (22:05 CEST), will direct it precisely towards its Pacific target. Hitting the upper atmosphere, ATV will tumble, disintegrate and burn, and any remains will strike the ocean at around 20:50 GMT (22:50 CEST). Useful up to last moments Some aspects of a controlled destructive entry are still not well known, so ATV's last moments will be recorded by a prototype black box. The Reentry Breakup Recorder will gather measurements on the location, temperature, pressure and attitude of the vehicle's breakup before ejecting. Once it reaches an altitude of about 18 km, it will transmit the information via the Iridium satphone system. With this last phone call home, Johannes Kepler will be productive right to the very end of a fruitful mission. __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Mercury question
MikeG, That never gets old! LOL! Phil Whitmer All sales of high-potassium, non-feldspar Mercury rocks are hereby suspended until further notice. ;) Best regards, MikeG __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] NASA Issues Announcement For Solar Electric Propulsion Studies
June 17, 2011 J.D. Harrington/Michael Braukus Headquarters, Washington 202-358-5241/1979 j.d.harring...@nasa.gov/michael.j.brau...@nasa.gov Lori J. Rachul Glenn Research Center, Cleveland 216-433-8806 lori.j.rac...@nasa.gov RELEASE: 11-191 NASA ISSUES ANNOUNCEMENT FOR SOLAR ELECTRIC PROPULSION STUDIES CLEVELAND -- NASA issued a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) seeking proposals for mission concept studies of a solar electric propulsion system demonstration to test and validate key capabilities and technologies for future exploration missions. Multiple studies have shown the advantages of using solar electric propulsion to efficiently transport heavy payloads from low Earth orbit to higher orbits. This concept enables the delivery of payloads to low Earth orbit via conventional chemical rockets. The use of solar electric propulsion could then spiral payloads out to higher energy orbits, including Lagrange point one, a potential assembly point in space between Earth and the moon. This approach could facilitate missions to near Earth asteroids and other destinations in deep space. Science missions could use solar electric propulsion to reach distant regions of the solar system, and commercial missions could use solar electric propulsion tugs to place, service, resupply, reposition and salvage space assets. NASA's strategic roadmaps for exploration, science and advanced technology all consider solar electric propulsion a vital and necessary future capability. NASA is examining potential mission concepts for a high-power solar electric propulsion system demonstration. Flying a demonstration mission on a representative trajectory through the Van Allen radiation belts and operating in actual space environments could reveal unknown systems-level and operational issues. Mission data will lower the technical and cost risk associated with future solar electric propulsion spacecraft. The flight demonstration mission would test and validate key capabilities and technologies required for future exploration elements such as a 300 kilowatt solar electric transfer vehicle. This Solar Electric Propulsion Demonstration Mission Concept Studies announcement is open to all non-government United States institutions, academia, industry and nonprofit organizations. NASA anticipates making multiple firm-fixed-priced awards with a total value up to $2 million. The deadline for submitting proposals is July 18. NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland is managing the broad agency announcement for the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate and relevant technology activities for the Office of the Chief Technologist. For more information about the announcement, visit: http://nspires.nasaprs.com For more information about NASA and exploration programs, visit: http://www.nasa.gov -end- __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Mercury question
I love it when scientific consensus gets turned on its head with facts! (My first astronomy book, Golden Library of Knowledge, The Moon, 1959, has three theories for the creation of lunar craters; volcanic, meteorite, and the bubble theory - popping bubbles while in a molten state) I'm assuming that angrites are slowly being discounted from Mercury origin? Cheers, Pete From: sterling_k_w...@sbcglobal.net To: meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2011 13:20:09 -0500 Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Mercury question Carl, List, Only one Mercury question? What is revealed from the first bulk composition scans is that Mercury surface, and presumably its crust, is composed of high-potassium non-feldspar rocks. In a word, Mercury is nothing like it's supposed to be. Mercury appears to have been made (the rock part) from high-volatile stuff, a notion that stands everything everybody has ever thought about Mercury on its head. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrBCExa2Rgwfeature=player_embedded Being non--field-geologically literate, I would like somebody on the List to post a list of Earthly high-potassium non-feldspar rocks rich in sulfur. I suppose that would be a bunch of high-potassium metallic sulfides, because one of the things we're seeing is a lot of sulfur on the surface of Mercury. Those yellow markings and stains in the photos? I don't think anybody ever thought Mercury would be a place rich in volatiles -- completely illogical. Welcome to the Real World... When I started out every book said the craters on the Moon were volcanoes. We spent a noticeable amount of the time we were actually ON the Moon looking for the evidence for lunar volcanoes. There aren't any volcanoes on the Moon. In one of the early Messenger flyby's there was a featured imaged called Spider crater. I posted here that I was pretty sure it was a caldera volcano. Now it appears that a lot of the craters on Mercury MAY be volcanoes. It would ironic (at the least) if we were to go from Moon volcanoes that are really impacts all the way to Mercury impacts that are really volcanoes! http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/17/science/space/17mercury.html Even better would be if Mercurian volcanoes were caused by impacts, because every geophysicist on Earth rejects the notion that impacts could cause volcanoes (and flood basalts). As long as we are going to be wrong about most things, why not be wrong about everything? (I love that NYTimes headline Close Up, Mercury Is Less Boring. Well, Earth Monkeys, at least it's not as boring as the NYTimes... Oh, the other thing is that the magnetic field of Mercury is bigger (stronger) at one pole than the other pole, just in case there's not already enough weirdness. I have an easy explanation; Mercury's core is EGG-SHAPED. Huh? Or two imperfectly merged cores of differing sizes from a giant impact that did not completely differentiate after the event. And let's not even get close to the question of how a volatile-rich planet with a huge iron core could FORM this close to the Sun... Sterling K. Webb --- - Original Message - From: cdtuc...@cox.net To: meteoritelist meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Sent: Thursday, June 16, 2011 5:41 PM Subject: [meteorite-list] Mercury question List, I have a question. With this new data from MESSENGER about the surface composition of Mercury; http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/news_room/details.php?id=174 What does this mean it terms of what a meteorite would be expected to look like? Would it be metallic -ish? Anyone, Thanks. Carl Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for dinner. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.? __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Rogue's gallery of meteorite fossil claims: article invitation
Looking at my treasured chunk of Orgueil just now, I got to wondering how many (and which) meteorites have had past claims of discoveries of fossils of bacteria, and how far back in time such claims go. Orgueil is one of my favorite meteorite for its classification and scientific importance alone, but I have also really enjoyed the fascinating and almost certainly flawed recent story of its supposed fossils. It occured to me that this would make a very interesting article if someone were to compile and briefly summarize the history of previous such 'discoveries.' Though this list will be a historical rouges gallery of the disputed, impossible, and improbable, I think it would make a fun article that will be of interest to a significant number of collectors. I can't imagine who would have the expertise to put this one together with relative ease, so I thought I would post the idea as an open invitation on the list. The subject is way out of my area of expertise, but if anyone feels capable of tackling this bit of scientific history and current news in a sensitive and light hearted way, I'd love to publish it in Meteorite. -Robert Beauford, co-editor __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Iron slice etching questions
Hello Listers and everyone that suggested info about etching. I think Ill take everyones suggestions and when the time comes see what resources I have to etch the slice I have. As for etching videos, I did find another video about etching by Ruben and in this one he talks about the solution used to etch irons. Here is the link and if anyone of you meteoriters are wondering how the solution is made check it out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZT1IC6Xol3I Thank you guys Shawn Alan IMCA 1633 eBaystore http://shop.ebay.com/photophlow/m.html __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Mercury question
Rocks and minerals found in planetary meteorites have very little to do with where they originated from. That question is answered by analysis of the Oxygen isotopes. As evidenced by the NWA 5400 discussion and many others. It's not the minerals that matter it's the oxygen they contain. Another odd ball in this regard was GRA 06128. It plots with the brachinites but mineralogically is nothing like any other brachinite. But it was determined to be a Brachinite anyway. What I was asking and what Sterling asked in a better way was; What kind of rocks are they finding on Mercury as they relate or compare to which rocks found here on earth? It seemed to me that they would be rather metallic rocks ? Anyone ? Carl-- Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for dinner. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote. Pete Pete rsvp...@hotmail.com wrote: Hi, Mike, I was referring to Sterling's text:...Mercury surface, and presumably its crust, is composed of high-potassium non-feldspar rocks., which I believe is opposite to what is generally found in angrites. Cheers, Pete Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2011 16:36:02 -0400 Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Mercury question From: meteoritem...@gmail.com To: rsvp...@hotmail.com CC: sterling_k_w...@sbcglobal.net; meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Good question Pete. :) Is there anything coming out of this new Mercury data (yet) that is relevant to the angrite parent body issue? Best regards, MikeG -- - Galactic Stone Ironworks - Meteorites Amber (Michael Gilmer) Website - http://www.galactic-stone.com Facebook - http://tinyurl.com/42h79my News Feed - http://www.galactic-stone.com/rss/126516 Twitter - http://twitter.com/galacticstone EOM - http://www.encyclopedia-of-meteorites.com/collection.aspx?id=1564 - On 6/17/11, Pete Pete rsvp...@hotmail.com wrote: I love it when scientific consensus gets turned on its head with facts! (My first astronomy book, Golden Library of Knowledge, The Moon, 1959, has three theories for the creation of lunar craters; volcanic, meteorite, and the bubble theory - popping bubbles while in a molten state) I'm assuming that angrites are slowly being discounted from Mercury origin? Cheers, Pete From: sterling_k_w...@sbcglobal.net To: meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2011 13:20:09 -0500 Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Mercury question Carl, List, Only one Mercury question? What is revealed from the first bulk composition scans is that Mercury surface, and presumably its crust, is composed of high-potassium non-feldspar rocks. In a word, Mercury is nothing like it's supposed to be. Mercury appears to have been made (the rock part) from high-volatile stuff, a notion that stands everything everybody has ever thought about Mercury on its head. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrBCExa2Rgwfeature=player_embedded Being non--field-geologically literate, I would like somebody on the List to post a list of Earthly high-potassium non-feldspar rocks rich in sulfur. I suppose that would be a bunch of high-potassium metallic sulfides, because one of the things we're seeing is a lot of sulfur on the surface of Mercury. Those yellow markings and stains in the photos? I don't think anybody ever thought Mercury would be a place rich in volatiles -- completely illogical. Welcome to the Real World... When I started out every book said the craters on the Moon were volcanoes. We spent a noticeable amount of the time we were actually ON the Moon looking for the evidence for lunar volcanoes. There aren't any volcanoes on the Moon. In one of the early Messenger flyby's there was a featured imaged called Spider crater. I posted here that I was pretty sure it was a caldera volcano. Now it appears that a lot of the craters on Mercury MAY be volcanoes. It would ironic (at the least) if we were to go from Moon volcanoes that are really impacts all the way to Mercury impacts that are really volcanoes! http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/17/science/space/17mercury.html Even better would be if Mercurian volcanoes were caused by impacts, because every geophysicist on Earth rejects the notion that impacts could cause volcanoes (and flood basalts). As long as we are going to be wrong about most things, why not be wrong about everything? (I love that NYTimes headline Close Up, Mercury Is Less Boring. Well, Earth Monkeys, at
[meteorite-list] Free poster of the inside of uNWAs
Hi, the race is not yet over! Some emails could not delivered, because of overflow. May be that the Hotmail server do not allow more than 15MBytes. If you like an poster for free, write a short email to m42proto...@t-online.de 20 posters in the size of 12,000 x 9,000 pixels are waiting for 20 emails. Regards Uwe m42protosun E-Mail für alle! Kostenlos Wunschadresse @t-online.de sichern. http://www.t-online.de/gratis-email __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] The Case for Mercury
So, Mr Hupe', where does this leave the Possible case for Mercury with our NWA 2999 or NWA 3133??? Enquireing minds would like to know ! You are far more knowledgeable than I in these matters. Pete IMCA 1733 __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] The Case for Mercury
As should always be the casewe'll wait for the analyses. And, if 2999 and/or 3133 were to fall off the Mercury radar (so to speak)...their anomaly may be even more interesting! Richard Montgomery - Original Message - From: pshu...@messengersfromthecosmos.com To: The List meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Sent: Friday, June 17, 2011 4:44 PM Subject: [meteorite-list] The Case for Mercury So, Mr Hupe', where does this leave the Possible case for Mercury with our NWA 2999 or NWA 3133??? Enquireing minds would like to know ! You are far more knowledgeable than I in these matters. Pete IMCA 1733 __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Aquarius/Juno/GRAIL/MSL Update - June 17, 2011
June 17, 2011 George H. Diller Kennedy Space Center, Fla. 321-867-2468 george.h.dil...@nasa.gov STATUS REPORT: ELV-061711 EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE STATUS REPORT Spacecraft: Aquarius Launch Vehicle: Delta II 7320 (Delta 354) Launch Site: Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. Launch Pad: Space Launch Complex 2 Altitude/Inclination: 408.2 statute miles/98 degrees At Vandenberg Air Force Base, the United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket with Aquarius/SAC-B was successfully launched from NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 on June 10 at 7:20:13.572 a.m. PDT. The first telemetry data showed the observatory to be in excellent health. The initial checkout phase now is under way and requires about 25 days. The Aquarius/SAC-D mission is a collaboration between NASA and Argentina's space agency with participation by Brazil, Canada, France and Italy. NASA's Launch Services Program at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida managed the launch. United Launch Alliance of Denver, Colo., is NASA's launch service provider of the Delta II 7320. Spacecraft: Juno Launch Vehicle: Atlas V-551 (AV-029) Launch Site: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. Launch Pad: Space Launch Complex 41 Launch Date: Aug. 5, 2011 Launch Time: 11:39 a.m. EDT At the Astrotech payload processing facility near Kennedy Space Center, Juno's Advanced Stellar Compass is undergoing testing. The spacecraft's main engine assembly and rocket engine modules successfully completed a functional test earlier this week. Thermal blanket closeouts continue. At Launch Complex 41, the Atlas V first stage booster was hoisted into position on the launcher in the Vertical Integration Facility on June 13. The first of five solid rocket boosters was attached on June 15. The Centaur upper stage will be brought to the launch pad the last week of June. The solar-powered Juno spacecraft will orbit Jupiter's poles 33 times to find out more about the gas giant's origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere. Spacecraft: GRAIL (Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory) Launch Vehicle: Delta II 7920 Heavy Launch Site: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. Launch Pad: Space Launch Complex 17B Launch Date: Sept. 8, 2011 Launch Time: 8:37:06 a.m. EDT and 9:16:12 a.m. EDT At Astrotech, GRAIL spacecraft functional testing is complete. The flight batteries were installed June 14. The spacecraft's solar arrays were attached June 15. Installation of thermal blankets continues. At NASA's Space Launch Complex 17B, the first stage propulsion and pneumatic system functional checks began on June 15. Electrical and hydraulic checkout of the rocket will begin June 22. This will be followed on June 27 by functional checks of the second stage propulsion and pneumatic systems. GRAIL's primary science objectives will be to determine the structure of the lunar interior, from crust to core, and to advance understanding of the thermal evolution of the moon. Spacecraft: Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity) Launch Vehicle: Atlas V-541 (AV-028) Launch Site: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. Launch Pad: Space Launch Complex 41 Launch Date: Nov. 25, 2011 Launch Time: 10:21 a.m. EST At the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at KSC, the spacecraft aeroshell was spin-tested on June 10. Installation of the solar arrays onto the cruise stage is planned for completion Friday. The Atlas V for the Mars Science Laboratory will arrive this summer. The Atlas V-541 configuration being used for Mars Science Laboratory will have four solid rocket boosters attached. The rover's 10 science instruments will search for signs of life, including methane, and help determine if the gas is from a biological or geological source. The unique rover will use a laser to look inside rocks and release the gasses so that its spectrometer can analyze and send the data back to Earth. Previous status reports are available at: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/launchingrockets/status/index.html -end- __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Need recommendations for microscope
Dear List, I am looking for recommendations for a good binocular stereo microscope the kind that I can use to observe the surface of material and slices. I would like to get a mid to high-end one with a powerful light source and the ability to adapt a digital camera. I see tons of them on eBay and it is a bit confusing for one that knows little about them. Your expertise is greatly appreciated! Thanks for your help! Mike Bandli --- Mike Bandli Historic Meteorites www.HistoricMeteorites.com and join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Meteorites1 IMCA #5765 --- __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] The Case for Mercury
To me, the data seems supports it in some ways but not others. The results are so ridiculously strange I do not know what to think. Having volatile minerals condensing that close to the sun sure doesn't make sense to me. I guess we have to expect the unexpected like what are highly refractory minerals doing in a comet dust returned on the Stardust mission? It is beyond my understanding and will have to ask many questions like everybody else. NWA 3133 is proposed to have come from the CV parent body not Mercury just to pinch off any confusion. In any case, weird results are always exciting. Best Regards, Adam - Original Message From: pshu...@messengersfromthecosmos.com pshu...@messengersfromthecosmos.com To: The List meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Sent: Fri, June 17, 2011 4:44:55 PM Subject: [meteorite-list] The Case for Mercury So, Mr Hupe', where does this leave the Possible case for Mercury with our NWA 2999 or NWA 3133??? Enquireing minds would like to know ! You are far more knowledgeable than I in these matters. Pete IMCA 1733 __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] OT Nice Supplemental News Group - ROCKETS!
Hi, All, The List is a little quiet these days, so I'll use the lull to suggest a good supplemental news group to this one, if you have any interest in rockets. Historical, current, and future prospects, *anything* relating to rockets and astronauts - worldwide. There is also a large archive with some great reads. Like this List, its loaded with friendly experts, professionals, and knowledgeable amateurs. No ads, free, no intimate information required, and only sporadic posts so it won't fill your inbox. http://www.friends-partners.org/mailman/listinfo/fpspace http://www.friends-partners.org/mailman/listinfo/fpspace For any noobs that might not be aware, a very relevant newsgroup, which I think is a must to sign up to, is another similar newsgroup enthusiastic for meteors: http://lists.meteorobs.org/mailman/listinfo/meteorobs http://lists.meteorobs.org/mailman/listinfo/meteorobs Cheers, Pete __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] AD NASA rare coin / Carancas
List, Please check out my rare NASA coin Men on the Moon and Carancas meteorite still at at $.99. click below: http://shop.ebay.com/meteoritemax/m.html?_nkw=_armrs=1_from=_ipg=25 Thanks for looking. Carl -- Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for dinner. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote. __ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
