Fuller Crater

From the USGS Astrogeology Science Center:

The Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature has approved the name Fuller for a crater on Mercury. For more information, see the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature.

Hollows in a Crater's Central Peaks

Focusing on the central peaks of a large unnamed crater between Stravinsky and Velazquez, this image takes a close look at hollows on both the crater floor and the peaks. It is interesting to note that the hollows seem to follow the shape of the central peak ring, and are seen in lower concentrations on the crater floor. Another interesting observation is that the large hollow in the center of the image has a crisp, fresh appearance. This suggests that some hollows are relatively young features, and could be in the process of forming today.

Date acquired: May 10, 2011
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 213547274
Image ID: 237117
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: 43.71°
Center Longitude: 290.9° E
Resolution: 21 meters/pixel
Scale: This image from corner to corner is approximately 15 km (9 mi.)
Incidence Angle: 68.0°
Emission Angle: 17.3°
Phase Angle: 85.4°

Photo credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington

Waters Crater, et al

This WAC (Wide Angle Camera) image shows a large portion of the planet, known as a limb image. Prominent in this image is Waters crater in the top left corner, distinctive because of its bright rays and dark impact melt flow. Also identifiable in this picture are Beethoven basin, as well as the Bello crater, Rumi crater, Philoxenus crater, and partly visible: Palmer Rupes.

Date acquired: April 14, 2011
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 211284337
Image ID: 130687
Instrument: Wide Angle Camera (WAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
WAC filter: 7 (748 nanometers)
Center Latitude: -21.12°
Center Longitude: 249.8° E
Resolution: 884 meters/pixel
Scale: Mercury's diameter is 4880 kilometers (3030 miles).
Incidence Angle: 69.6°
Emission Angle: 63.7°
Phase Angle: 28.0°

Photo credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington

Possible Pyroclastic Deposits from an Impact Crater

This false color image shows a bright fresh crater exhibiting possible evidence of a pyroclastic deposit on its eastern side (shown by the bright yellow); as well as a series of secondaries which have excavated sub-surface material resulting in the blues seen in the north-east corner of the image.

Date acquired: November 06, 2011
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 229105596, 229105592, 229105588
Image ID: 980566, 980565, 980564
Instrument: Wide Angle Camera (WAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
WAC filters: 9, 7, 6 (996, 748, 433 nanometers) in red, green, and blue
Center Latitude: 25.42°
Center Longitude: 266.8° E
Resolution: 121 meters/pixel
Scale: The bright unnamed crater is about 33 km in diameter (21mi.)
Incidence Angle: 52.3°
Emission Angle: 16.8°
Phase Angle: 69.1°

Photo credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington

Central Peaks of Hokusai Crater

This image focuses on the central peaks and impact melt of Hokusai crater. The contrast between the illuminated sides of these peaks and their shadows make this a striking image. It is interesting to note that the smooth floor surrounding the mountains was formed from cooling impact melt generated from the heat and energy of the original impact. The crater's name honors the Japanese painter and printmaker, Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) who possessed a slight obsession with the famous volcano Mt. Fuji. Hokusai's most well known work is "Mount Fuji Seen Below a Wave at Kanagawa."

Date acquired: July 29, 2011
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 220460258
Image ID: 566860
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: 58.03°
Center Longitude: 16.52° E
Resolution: 24 meters/pixel
Scale: The image is approximately 28 km wide (17 mi.)
Incidence Angle: 75.4°
Emission Angle: 28.5°
Phase Angle: 104.0°

Photo credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington

Nine Newly-Named Craters

From the USGS Astrogeology Science Center:

The Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature has approved new names for nine craters on Mercury: Bechet, Damer, David, Erté, Larrocha, Laxness, Monk, Rikyū, and Varma. For more information, see the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature.

Duccio Crater

From the USGS Astrogeology Science Center:

The Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature has approved the name Duccio for a crater on Mercury. For more information, see the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature.

Ten Newly-Named Rupes

From the USGS Astrogeology Science Center:

The Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature has approved new names for ten rupēs on Mercury: Alvin Rupes, Belgica Rupes, Calypso Rupes, Carnegie Rupes, Duyfken Rupes, Eltanin Rupes, Enterprise Rupes, Nautilus Rupes, Palmer Rupes, and Terror Rupes. For more information, see the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature.