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Bartok, a large complex crater in Mercury's southern hemisphere, is located in the center of the frame. In this colored image, Bartok's central peak appears to be blue and is darker than the surrounding surface. This suggests that the central uplift is composed of material that has different properties than the surrounding terrain, providing clues to the geologic history of the region. To the southwest of Bartok, a young crater with stunning rays is also visible.
This image was acquired as a targeted high-resolution 11-color image set. Acquiring 11-color targets is a new campaign that began in March 2013 and that utilizes all of the WAC's 11 narrow-band color filters. Because of the large data volume involved, only features of special scientific interest are targeted for imaging in all 11 colors.
Date acquired: November 12, 2013
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 26540775, 26540771, 26540769
Image ID: 5180966, 5180964, 5180963
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: -29.48°
Center Longitude: 224.9° E
Resolution: 1350 meters/pixel
Scale: This image's central crater has a diameter of approximately 117 km (73 miles)
Incidence Angle: 51.4°
Emission Angle: 27.9°
Phase Angle: 79.0°
Image credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington
This color image features de Graft and provides a new higher resolution view of the color variations associated with this intriguing crater. The floor of de Graft is covered with bright hollows, which can be seen in detail in this previously released NAC mosaic. The central peaks of de Graft appear blue in this view, similar to the crater Bartok, likely due to material brought up to the surface from depth during the impact event. Around the rim of de Graft, material that appears brighter orange in this image can be identified, which may be yet another different type of rock that exists below the surface and was excavated during the impact, as seen surrounding Kuiper.
This image was acquired as a high-resolution targeted color observation. Targeted color observations are images of a small area on Mercury's surface at resolutions higher than the 1-kilometer/pixel 8-color base map. During MESSENGER's one-year primary mission, hundreds of targeted color observations were obtained. During MESSENGER's extended mission, high-resolution targeted color observations are more rare, as the 3-color base map covered Mercury's northern hemisphere with the highest-resolution color images that are possible.
Date acquired: July 29, 2013
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 17384119, 17384139, 17384123
Image ID: 4529737, 4529742, 4529738
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: 21.61°
Center Longitude: 1.48° E
Resolution: 251 meters/pixel
Scale: de Graft has a diameter of 68 kilometers (42 miles)
Incidence Angle: 22.1°
Emission Angle: 55.8°
Phase Angle: 78.0°
Photo credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington
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