Firdousi Crater

Firdousi is a relatively fresh impact crater approximately 96 kilometers (60 miles) in diameter. Its abundant secondary craters dominate the surroundings, and many have haloes of high-reflectance, relatively blue ejecta.

Date acquired: August 14, 2011
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 221844487, 221844483, 221844479
Image ID: 632390, 632389, 632388
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: 4.19°
Center Longitude: 65.30° E
Resolution: 204 meters/pixel
Scale: Firdousi is approximately 96 kilometers (60 miles) in diameter
Incidence Angle: 37.0°
Emission Angle: 14.6°
Phase Angle: 51.7°

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

Checkov and Schubert Basins

Two prominent basins, Chekhov at the upper left and Schubert at lower right, are both just under 200 km in diameter but have very different appearances. Chekhov has a prominent peak ring and its older age is reflected in the numerous craters that have battered its rim and floor. Schubert's floor is smooth with only a hint of its peak ring peeking through.

Date acquired: October 31, 2011
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 228589200, 228589220, 228589204
Image ID: 956051, 956056, 956052
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: -37.80°
Center Longitude: 303.8° E
Resolution: 655 meters/pixel
Scale: Scene is approximately 700 km (435 miles) across
Incidence Angle: 71.1°
Emission Angle: 15.9°
Phase Angle: 86.8°

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

De Graft Crater and Rays from Hokusai

A colorful view of a complex region is shown in this image. The high-reflectance and hollow-filled floor of de Graft crater is visible at center left, and a similar high-reflectance smaller crater is located to the northeast. Streaking across the scene from north to south are rays from Hokusai crater, located over 1,500 km away.

Date acquired: September 22, 2011
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 225143097, 225143117, 225143101
Image ID: 790098, 790103, 790099
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: 24.00°
Center Longitude: 6.67° E
Resolution: 421 meters/pixel
Scale: De Graft crater is approximately 68 km (42 miles) in diameter
Incidence Angle: 26.8°
Emission Angle: 22.5°
Phase Angle: 39.3°

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

Brontë and Degas Craters

This image shows a colorful view of Brontë (the large crater in the top right corner) and Degas (the blue-hued crater atop Brontë). These craters are located in Sobkou Planitia, a plains region formed through past volcanic activity.

Date acquired: December 12, 2011
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 232160712, 232160708, 232160704
Image ID: 1125985, 1125984, 1125983
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: 36.44°
Center Longitude: 231.5° E
Resolution: 231 meters/pixel
Scale: Degas crater is 52 km (32 miles) in diameter
Incidence Angle: 59.7°
Emission Angle: 25.2°
Phase Angle: 85.0°

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

Shakespeare Impact Basin

For Valentine's Day, it seems appropriate to feature Shakespeare basin, named for the English poet and playwright and author of a famous collection of sonnets, some focusing on love. "Shall I compare thee" to other large basins on Mercury? If so, check out Rembrandt, Tolstoj, Rachmaninoff and Beethoven.

This mosaic was assembled from eight images that were acquired as part of MDIS's high-resolution surface morphology base map. The surface morphology base map will cover more than 90% of Mercury's surface with an average resolution of 250 meters/pixel (0.16 miles/pixel or 820 feet/pixel). Images acquired for the surface morphology base map typically have off-vertical Sun angles (i.e., high incidence angles) and visible shadows so as to reveal clearly the topographic form of geologic features.

Date acquired: April 26 - 28, 2011
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 212372542, 212415875, 212416002, 212459333, 212459461, 212459565, 212502921, 212503025
Image ID: 181841, 183945, 183946, 185952, 185953, 185954, 188123, 188124
Instrument: Wide Angle Camera (WAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
WAC filter: 7 (748 nanometers)
Center Latitude: 48.5°
Center Longitude: 208° E
Resolution: 240 meters/pixel
Scale: Shakespeare basin has a diameter of 400 km (250 miles)
Incidence Angle: 73°
Emission Angle: 0.6°
Phase Angle: 75°

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

The Scarp in Rembrandt

The long scarp trending vertically on the left-side of this image is located in the interior of the large 715-kilometer diameter Rembrandt impact basin. The interior of Rembrandt hosts not only this compressional scarp but also a set of radial extensional troughs. View these links to see Rembrandt in color or in 3D.

Date acquired: February 07, 2012
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 237089673
Image ID: 1363507
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: -35.48°
Center Longitude: 82.5° E
Resolution: 210 meters/pixel
Scale: This image is approximately 210 kilometers (130 miles) across
Orientation: North is toward the upper left corner
Incidence Angle: 62.5°
Emission Angle: 36.9°
Phase Angle: 78.1° [or 67.4°; two phase angles were listed for this photo]

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

Impact Crater with Impact Melt

This high-resolution color image shows a 14-kilometer diameter crater that is relatively young, as indicated by the bright rays that cross the neighboring features. A dark "tongue" of impact melt, which has a bluer color than the nearby surface, appears to have flowed out of the crater.

Date acquired: May 16, 2011
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 214069807, 214069811, 214069815
Image ID: 261719, 261720, 261721
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: -8.82°
Center Longitude: 254.9° E
Resolution: 294 meters/pixel
Scale: The center crater has a diameter of approximately 14 kilometers (9 miles)
Incidence Angle: 41.8°
Emission Angle: 25.6°
Phase Angle: 67.4°

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

Amaral Crater

Named in 2008 for the Brazilian painter Tarsila do Amaral, Amaral crater was imaged during MESSENGER's first Mercury flyby and discovered to contain bright central peaks that were relatively blue in color compared to the surrounding terrain. The peaks resembled those of Eminescu in color, now known to be the location of an impressive collection of hollows. This spectacular image of Amaral highlights the topography of the peaks inside the crater but doesn't show wide-spread hollows as seen within Eminescu, though there may be a hint that perhaps the bright tips of Amaral's peaks do host hollows.

Date acquired: February 04, 2012
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 236873588
Image ID: 1353328
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: -26.44.°
Center Longitude: 118.2.° E
Resolution: 80 meters/pixel
Scale: Amaral has a diameter of 109 kilometers (68 miles)
Orientation: North is to the left
Incidence Angle: 85°
Emission Angle: 56°
Phase Angle: 29°

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

Kuiper Crater

This high-resolution enhanced color view of Kuiper crater shows not just the bright rays that extend out from this relatively young crater but also the redder color of Kuiper's ejecta blanket. The redder color may be due to a compositionally distinct material excavated from depth by the impact that formed Kuiper.

Date acquired: September 02, 2011
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 223443634, 223443638, 223443654
Image ID: 708128, 708129, 708133
Instrument: Wide Angle Camera (WAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
WAC filter: 9 (1000 nanometers), 7 (750 nanometers), 6 (433 nanometers) as red-green-blue
Center Latitude: -11.97°
Center Longitude: 328.4° E
Resolution: 380 meters/pixel
Scale: Kuiper has a diameter of 62 kilometers (39 miles)
Incidence Angle: 33.4°
Emission Angle: 21.4°
Phase Angle: 54.8°

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

Xiao Zhao and Eastman Craters

The bright rays of Xiao Zhao dominate this scene. These rays indicate that Xiao Zhao is a relatively young crater. Eastman crater can be seen to the southwest of Xiao Zhao. The eight different color filters of the WAC that are used to create the color base map have central wavelengths of 430, 480, 560, 630, 750, 830, 900, and 1000 nm. The images acquired through these narrow-band filters are combined to create color images that accentuate color differences on Mercury's surface. As an example, this image was created by using three images acquired as part of the color base map with the central wavelengths of 1000, 750, and 430 nm displayed in red, green, and blue, respectively. This particular combination allows the visualization of details, some of which would be invisible to the human eye.

Date acquired: December 29, 2011
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 233687507, 233687511, 233687527
Image ID: 1199649, 1199650, 1199654
Instrument: Wide Angle Camera (WAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
WAC filter: 9 (1000 nanometers), 7 (750 nanometers), 6 (433 nanometers) as red-green-blue
Center Latitude: 9.6°
Center Longitude: 125.8° E
Resolution: 443 meters/pixel
Scale: The rayed crater Xiao Zhao is 24 km (15 mi.) in diameter.
Incidence Angle: 26.9°
Emission Angle: 14.1°
Phase Angle: 28.0°

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

Hovnatanian Crater

Hovnatanian crater was formed by an object that impacted at a very oblique angle, causing the crater to appear elliptical. Although impacts at most angles produce circular craters, impacts with incidence angles less than 15º (from the horizontal) will create elliptical craters. The rays of Hovnatanian form a "butterfly" pattern, which also indicates an oblique impact.

Date acquired: January 16, 2012
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 235218286
Image ID: 1273501
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: -7.7°
Center Longitude: 172.6° E
Resolution: 58 meters/pixel
Scale: Hovnatanian crater is approximately 33 km (21 mi.) long.
Incidence Angle: 77.3°
Emission Angle: 55.6°
Phase Angle: 132.9°

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

Complex Crater with Hollows

This interesting complex crater exhibits many hollows along its floor and central peak complex. The hollows have a very high albedo, which makes this crater stand out prominently (for example, the crater can be seen clearly near the right hand side of this image).

Date acquired: January 26, 2012
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 236105127
Image ID: 1316385
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: -2.8°
Center Longitude: 353.6° E
Resolution: 119 meters/pixel
Scale: The large crater is approximately 90 km (56 mi.) across.
Incidence Angle: 67.4°
Emission Angle: 56.9°
Phase Angle: 124.4°

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

De Graft Crater

De Graft crater was named for 20th century Ghanaian playwright, poet, and novelist Joe de Graft following MESSENGER's second flyby of the innermost planet. De Graft is a complex crater that hosts numerous bright hollows on its floor. This image is a mosaic of three NAC images taken as a sequence designed to target the crater.

Date acquired: January 23, 2012
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 235766888, 235766929, 235766969
Image ID: 1300010, 1300011, 1300012
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: 21.90°
Center Longitude: 1.78° E
Resolution: 57 meters/pixel
Scale: De Graft crater is approximately 68 km (42 mi.) in diameter.
Incidence Angle: 73.5°
Emission Angle: 37.1°
Phase Angle: 110.7°

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

From Terminator to Limb

This stunning view includes both the terminator and the limb. Basho crater, an 80-km-diameter, complex crater with a prominent central peak, can be seen near the center of the scene.

Date acquired: January 11, 2012
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 234794915
Image ID: 1253094
Instrument: Wide Angle Camera (WAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
WAC filter: 7 (748 nanometers)
Center Latitude: -33.9°
Center Longitude: 188.4° E
Resolution: 713 meters/pixel
Scale: Mercury is 2440 km (1516 mi.) in diameter

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

Living in Anonymity

This image, taken with the Wide Angle Camera (WAC), shows an unnamed crater in Mercury's northern hemisphere. This complex crater displays bright central peaks and terraced walls. It may also contain hollows at its center--shallow, bright impressions which were a surprising find in some of MESSENGER's high-resolution images.

Date acquired: December 02, 2011
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 231308591
Image ID: 1084977
Instrument: Wide Angle Camera (WAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
WAC filter: 7 (748 nanometers)
Center Latitude: 39.68°
Center Longitude: 111.0° E
Resolution: 107 meters/pixel
Scale: The large crater is about 75 km (47 miles) in diameter
Incidence Angle: 73.7°
Emission Angle: 6.4°
Phase Angle: 73.5°

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

Hollows or Horcruxes

This image, taken with the Narrow Angle Camera (NAC), shows an area of hollows on the floor of Raditladi basin. Hollows were first discovered on the surface of Mercury during MESSENGER's orbital mission and have not been seen on the Moon or on any other rocky planetary bodies. These bright, shallow depressions may have been formed by the loss of volatile materials. This same region has also been imaged in color.

Date acquired: January 02, 2012
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 233984961
Image ID: 1213990
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: 26.60°
Center Longitude: 120.5° E
Resolution: 47 meters/pixel
Scale: This image is 73 km across (45 miles) from the left point to the right point.
Incidence Angle: 33.3°
Emission Angle: 22.0°
Phase Angle: 51.5°

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

Northern Lights

This image, taken with the Wide Angle Camera (WAC), shows an unnamed complex crater in Mercury's northern hemisphere. The crisp morphology of the terraced walls and central peak, and the high-reflectance ejecta blanket and rays surrounding the crater, indicate that the crater is relatively young. Also visible are many secondary craters, possibly resulting from the impact that formed this crater to the west.

Date acquired: January 04, 2012
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 234155258
Image ID: 1222319
Instrument: Wide Angle Camera (WAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
WAC filter: 7 (748 nanometers)
Center Latitude: 51.54°
Center Longitude: 95.26° E
Resolution: 176 meters/pixel
Scale: The complex crater is 33 km (20 miles) in diameter
Incidence Angle: 61.6°
Emission Angle: 15.6°
Phase Angle: 48.5°

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

Eminescu Crater

This image, taken with the Narrow Angle Camera (NAC), shows the crater Eminescu. Named for the nineteenth century Romanian poet Mihai Eminescu, Eminescu displays bright hollows at its center. These shallow, irregular depressions were a surprising find in MESSENGER high-resolution images, and the possible causes of their formation are still being studied.

Date acquired: January 03, 2012
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 234069368
Image ID: 1218106
Instrument: Wide Angle Camera (WAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
WAC filter: 4 (558 nanometers)
Center Latitude: 10.29°
Center Longitude: 113.9° E
Resolution: 469 meters/pixel
Scale: Eminescu crater is about 130 km (80 miles) in diameter.
Incidence Angle: 26.5°
Emission Angle: 23.6°
Phase Angle: 50.2°

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