The Solar Storm, at Mercury (large pic)

[Canuckistanian]

The recent solar storm had a dramatic effect on MESSENGER images of Mercury. In the image above, you can see bright streaks and speckles, with Mercury's surface faintly visible behind them. These streaks are energetic particles from the Sun hitting the camera's CCD. While great for illustrating the powerful solar event, images acquired during this period will have to be replanned for later in the mission.

http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/gallery/sciencePhotos/image.php?gallery_id=2&image_id=777

[Ian David]

1. WHY DOESN'T OBAMA DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS!?!?!?!

I'm kidding.

[Canuckistanian]

2. He can't. It's Wall St. that's the problem

Or something like that.....

[ZenLefty]

3. He hates Mercury.

Name one piece of pro-Mercury legislature he's passed.

I didn't think so.

[Vincardog]

4. Anyone else wonder about the lack of coherent directionality of the streaks?

[Thor_MN]

5. Scattering due to the camera housing ?

Just a guess.