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NASA / JHUAPL / CIW
A June 3 image from NASA's Messenger probe shows a scene in Mercury's southern hemisphere, northwest of Magritte Crater. Three overlapping craters form the head and ears of a "Mickey Mouse" shape.
We've had the Face on Mars, the Smiley Face on Mars, even the Elephant Face on Mars — and now we've got the Mickey Mouse Face on Mercury, courtesy of NASA's Messenger probe.
The mousy shape comes from three overlapping craters in Mercury's southern hemisphere, northwest of a larger crater known as Magritte. The biggest crater in this scene, which serves as Mickey's head, measures about 65 miles (105 kilometers) across.
This picture was taken during Messenger's extended mission, with the aim of collecting imagery when the sun is near the horizon. Such conditions produce long shadows that highlight small-scale surface features. The result is that the Mercury mission's mapmakers get a better sense of the lay of the land.
Messenger became the first spacecraft to orbit Mercury back in March 2011, and the end of its one-year primary mapping mission marked the beginning of a one-year extension. Which means we may be hearing more about Mickey, Magritte and their Mercurial friends for months or years to come.
Where in the Cosmos
The Mickey Mouse Face on Mercury was today's featured image for our "Where in the Cosmos" Facebook contest. It took just a couple of minutes for Leslie Kebschull and Brad Perdew to come up with the locale for the cartoonish craters. Their entries came in just three seconds apart. To reward their quick minds and fingers, I'm sending them a pair of 3-D glasses, courtesy of Microsoft Research's WorldWide Telescope. (Microsoft is a partner in the msnbc.com joint venture.)
To get in on next week's contest, click the "like" button for the Cosmic Log Facebook page. And while you're at it, sign up for the Tech/Science email newsletter, which is sent out Monday through Friday. That's a great way to get your daily dose of Cosmic Log as well as other goodies from msnbc.com's Space and Science sections.
Alan Boyle is msnbc.com's science editor. Connect with the Cosmic Log community by "liking" the log's Facebook page, following @b0yle on Twitter and adding the Cosmic Log page to your Google+ presence. You can also check out "The Case for Pluto," my book about the controversial dwarf planet and the search for new worlds.
Leave a Comment:
This really is a "fun"picture. It is sometimes hard to find "great" things on pictures of planets that scientists find "incredible".But we all can relate to this one. Great Picture!
Three asteroids landing close together, how rare! NOT
Absolute proof that
Jesus ChristMickey Mouse really does exist.So that's where they sent Walt's head.
What's next? venus with a Peenus? OH wait!!
Disney really does own everything. LOL!
That's not Mickey Mouse, that's a water molecule.
Take THAT, Richard Branson. Disney beat you in to space. Nyah, nyah.
I wonder if Disney will try to sue Mercury for copyright infringement.
@PM - here is an image of the copyright crater on Mercury
Prior art.
I knew Disney recently raised their prices again. But I didn't think they went this high!
®¿®
Pluto - now THAT'S a Mickey Mouse planet!
It was.... until it got demoted. Would Mickey settle for a dwarf planet? ;-D
looks like Mickey might have took a head shot :-(
wait minute, could it be? i think i see Minnies shoe print in the upper left. Call DZNY-CSI
It's proof, from the aliens who built the pyramids, that they were here:-)
So aliens built Disneyland too?!?
The white cow with a Mickey Mouse head markings on its side is pretty unique also ....
Even as childish as it may seem , I've made pancakes in that shape too .... "LOL"
Disney World is allot of fun ....
But I have a hard time enjoying Space Mountain with all of its jolting turns ....
Thanks for the article Alan ....
notice the middle finger m.m. has right in his face.....
three dots close together?
slow day for news?
Just an excuse to give away 3-D glasses, Crubs
I have to agree. Tons of great science going on and this is what we get? I respect Alan but we need to step it up a bit around here.
Nice grouping.
Who's the leader of the planets made for you and me? Mer--cur--y spells Mercury!
Looks like a cured up boy to me. Mickey is just a figurment of tha emagination. This kid is for real. On second thought it looks more like Charlie Brown kicking the football. Disney propably owns that as well.
It's Mickey Frikken Mouse! Period!
Mercury: "It's a small world after all...." ;-)
When you wish upon a star....
or planet. Disney should send up Buzz Lightyear to investigate.
It looks more like an ultrasound picture than Mickey Mouse.
I agree
i wonder wats next spiderman on jupiter
looking at it on your computer from let side looks like a baby developing in a womb. head left side the body curled as if in a womb.. i do not see no Micky mouse but a fetus in a womb....
I have to admit that it looks like mickey mouse in L.A., like someone shooting at mickey mouse ears
I wonder how long it will take for Disney to sue the planet Mercury for copyright infringement?
If they win, they get to send up their own planet in Mercury's place.... ;-D
Obviously a tribute to the current administration. Probably paid for by George Soros.
That didn't take long at all, now did it?
At least one idiot in every seed including the sports seeds. They must get paid by the post.
This picture will show you that the infinite number of monkeys on and infinite number of typewriters etc is true. Now the next time you see a seed for a picture of JC or the BVM in a grilled cheese sandwich ignore it.
Mickey does get around.........
Now watch this inspires the Disney company to get into the private space program.