Hilly Terrain NW of Angkor Vallis

With the Sun low on the horizon, shadows accentuate the hilly nature of this terrain. This surface has been battered by repeated impacts for billions of years, creating the hilly surface that exists today. As a previous featured image of a nearby area put it, Mercury has been a "planetary punching bag."

This image was acquired as a high-resolution targeted observation. Targeted observations are images of a small area on Mercury's surface at resolutions much higher than the 200-meter/pixel morphology base map. It is not possible to cover all of Mercury's surface at this high resolution, but typically several areas of high scientific interest are imaged in this mode each week.

Date acquired: November 12, 2013
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 26543484
Image ID: 5181047
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: 67.11°
Center Longitude: 249.8° E
Resolution: 11 meters/pixel
Scale: This image is 14.6 kilometers (9.1 miles) across
Incidence Angle: 82.0°
Emission Angle: 36.9°
Phase Angle: 118.9°

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

Note: This image is located northwest of Angkor Vallis in the Raditladi Quadrangle.

Damer Crater

The steep walls of the crater Damer are highlighted in today's image. Named for the English sculptor Anne Seymour Damer (1749-1828) earlier this year, the 60-kilometer-diameter crater is distinguished by a central peak covered with hollows.

This image was acquired as a high-resolution targeted observation. Targeted observations are images of a small area on Mercury's surface at resolutions much higher than the 200-meter/pixel morphology base map. It is not possible to cover all of Mercury's surface at this high resolution, but typically several areas of high scientific interest are imaged in this mode each week.

Date acquired: November 13, 2013
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 26687033
Image ID: 5191249
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: 36.25°
Center Longitude: 243.4° E
Resolution: 17 meters/pixel
Scale: This image is 17 kilometers (11 miles) across
Incidence Angle: 68.3°
Emission Angle: 3.0°
Phase Angle: 65.3°

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

Wang Meng, Judah Ha Levi and Glinka Craters

Three named craters are featured prominently in this view. The peak-ring basin Wang Meng is toward the horizon, while the pit-floor crater Glinka is near the bottom left. Judah Ha Levi is about half way in between the two.

This image was acquired as part of MDIS's high-incidence-angle base map. The high-incidence-angle base map complements the surface morphology base map of MESSENGER's primary mission that was acquired under generally more moderate incidence angles. High incidence angles, achieved when the Sun is near the horizon, result in long shadows that accentuate the small-scale topography of geologic features. The high-incidence-angle base map was acquired with an average resolution of 200 meters/pixel.

Date acquired: November 16, 2013
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 26888421
Image ID: 5205547
Instrument: Wide Angle Camera (WAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
WAC filter: 7 (748 nanometers)
Center Latitude: 10.04°
Center Longitude: 251.2° E
Resolution: 292 meters/pixel
Scale: Wang Meng has a diameter of 165 km (103 miles)

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

Mena Crater

Here we get a closer look at the fresh, bright-rayed crater Mena. Solidified impact melt forms a smooth pond on the western side of the crater floor. This asymmetry is due to the fact that Mena formed on the sloping rim of an older crater, as seen in this wider view.

This image was acquired as a targeted set of stereo images. Targeted stereo observations are acquired at resolutions much higher than that of the 200-meter/pixel stereo base map. These targets acquired with the NAC enable the detailed topography of Mercury's surface to be determined for a local area of interest.

Date acquired: November 13, 2013
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 26657614
Image ID: 5189176
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: -0.24°
Center Longitude: 235.3° E
Resolution: 37 meters/pixel
Scale: Mena crater has a diameter of 15 km (9 miles)
Incidence Angle: 54.7°
Emission Angle: 23.4°
Phase Angle: 71.0°

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

Ghost Crater

Mercury's surface has been extensively modified by tectonic activity. Giant thrust faults are thought to be the result of global cooling and contraction of the planet, and Mercury's smooth plains in particular are folded and wrinkled. With the Sun very low in the sky, the complexity of tectonic features in the northern volcanic plains is especially apparent. The wrinkle-ridge ring (also known as a "ghost crater") on the eastern edge of the scene was also captured here (see PIA15636) at more moderate illumination angles.

This image was acquired as part of MDIS's high-incidence-angle base map. The high-incidence-angle base map complements the surface morphology base map of MESSENGER's primary mission that was acquired under generally more moderate incidence angles. High incidence angles, achieved when the Sun is near the horizon, result in long shadows that accentuate the small-scale topography of geologic features. The high-incidence-angle base map was acquired with an average resolution of 200 meters/pixel.

Date acquired: November 12, 2013
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 26543953
Image ID: 5181050
Instrument: Wide Angle Camera (WAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
WAC filter: 7 (748 nanometers)
Center Latitude: 80.04°
Center Longitude: 86.24° E
Resolution: 230 meters/pixel
Scale: Scene is 125 km (78 miles) from top to bottom
Incidence Angle: 90.7°
Emission Angle: 49.8°
Phase Angle: 140.6°

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

Nureyev Crater

The bright, rayed crater Nureyev is at center stage in this dramatic view toward Mercury's eastern limb. The crater's namesake is the Soviet/British ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev, who died in 1993. This set of color images was obtained at a relatively small phase angle and consequently is dominated by variations in the inherent reflectance and color of the surface. The shape of the crater can be better perceived in an image with a larger phase angle, allowing shadows and shading to reveal the topography of the surface.

This image was acquired as part of MDIS's high-resolution 3-color imaging campaign. The map produced from this campaign complements the 8-color base map (at an average resolution of 1 km/pixel) acquired during MESSENGER's primary mission by imaging Mercury's surface in a subset of the color filters at the highest resolution possible. The three narrow-band color filters are centered at wavelengths of 430 nm, 750 nm, and 1000 nm, and image resolutions generally range from 100 to 400 meters/pixel in the northern hemisphere.

Date acquired: June 17, 2012
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 248431526, 248431518, 248431522
Image ID: 2033219, 2033217, 2033218
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: 12.6°
Center Longitude: 187.0° E
Resolution: 660 meters/pixel
Scale: Nureyev crater is about 16 km (10 mi.) in diameter
Incidence Angle: 26.0°
Emission Angle: 54.1°
Phase Angle: 28.0°

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

Unnamed Craters

In the center of this image is a high-reflectance area that seems to be confined to a region of lower elevation that is bounded by linear scarp (cliff) segments. Such diffuse bright areas are sometimes related to the deposition of small secondary craters and ray segments by a relatively recent impact crater, but looking at regional images (for example, using QuickMap), there are no rayed craters in the immediate vicinity (though Han Kan might be a candidate). Therefore, a compositional difference may account for the difference in the albedo (brightness) of the material in the low-lying area. Are the scarps tectonic in nature (the result of vertical movement along faults), or were they formed by secondary crater chains? Also of interest in the scene are hollows on the central peak of the crater at the upper left, and the smooth impact melt on the floor of the terrace-walled crater just below center. Scientists will be at work for many years to solve the puzzle of Mercury's complicated geological history!

This image was acquired as part of the NAC ride-along imaging campaign. When data volume is available and MDIS is not acquiring images for its other campaigns, high-resolution NAC images are obtained of the surface. These images are designed not to interfere with other instrument observations but take full advantage of periods during the mission when extra data volume is available.

Date acquired: May 19, 2012
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 245904903
Image ID: 1853014
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: -47.3°
Center Longitude: 177.3° E
Resolution: 179 meters/pixel
Scale: The scene is about 184 km (114 mi.) across
Incidence Angle: 47.7°
Emission Angle: 24.2°
Phase Angle: 71.9°

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

Bright Impact Crater Deposits Near Matisse Crater

This image brings us back to the vicinity of Matisse, the subject of several recent Gallery images. The unnamed impact crater with the bright pyroclastic deposit on its southern floor also has two arcuate scallops on its northern wall. These were the sites of massive landslides that took place when the oversteepened crater wall collapsed. The ultimate cause of the collapse is the topography of the area where the crater formed: the northern part of the crater formed on the wall of Matisse.

This image was acquired as part of MDIS's high-resolution albedo base map. The best images for discerning variations in albedo, or brightness, on the surface are acquired when the Sun is overhead, so these images typically are taken at low incidence angles. The albedo base map covers Mercury's surface at an average resolution of 200 meters/pixel.

Date acquired: April 05, 2012
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 242124773
Image ID: 1609270
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: -22.85°
Center Longitude: 267.3° E
Resolution: 196 meters/pixel
Scale: The crater with the bright floor is about 70 km (44 mi.) in diameter
Incidence Angle: 40.8°
Emission Angle: 30.0°
Phase Angle: 70.8°

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

Lobate Scarp North of Mussorgskij Crater

In contrast to a previous image, not all lobate scarps are large. The example pictured here is much smaller -- both in terms of length and relief -- than Discovery Rupes, but it too has contributed to the shortening of Mercury's crust. This scarp cross-cuts an unnamed, 65-km-diameter crater, which is filled with smooth plains, just north of Mussorgskij crater. Whether this scarp is younger than Discovery Rupes and so has not had as much time to accumulate tectonic deformation, or if instead it did not shorten the crust as much for other reasons, remains as yet unclear.

This image was acquired as a high-resolution targeted observation. Targeted observations are images of a small area on Mercury's surface at resolutions much higher than the 200-meter/pixel morphology base map. It is not possible to cover all of Mercury's surface at this high resolution, but typically several areas of high scientific interest are imaged in this mode each week.

Date acquired: September 11, 2013
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 21213842
Image ID: 4802121
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: 35.4°
Center Longitude: 262.0° E
Resolution: 24.1 meters/pixel
Scale: The field of view in this image is about 29 km (18 mi.) from left to right
Incidence Angle: 60.59°
Emission Angle: 31.91°
Phase Angle: 28.68°
North is to the bottom of the image.

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

Unnamed Crater and Wrinkle Ridge

Simple craters adorn Mercury's surface. This unnamed example lies in the northern volcanic plains, and likely post-dates most of the volcanism in the region. Its raised rim is still largely preserved, suggesting that it is relatively young -- by Mercury's standards: it's probably still many millions of years old! Its interior is slightly raised, the result of deformation by a small wrinkle ridge located just to its east.

This image was acquired as a high-resolution targeted observation. Targeted observations are images of a small area on Mercury's surface at resolutions much higher than the 200-meter/pixel morphology base map. It is not possible to cover all of Mercury's surface at this high resolution, but typically several areas of high scientific interest are imaged in this mode each week.

Date acquired: September 02, 2013
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 20407784
Image ID: 4744802
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: 63.4°
Center Longitude: 336.0° E
Resolution: 23.9 meters/pixel
Scale: This crater is 9.4 km (5.8 mi.) in diameter
Incidence Angle: 63.51°
Emission Angle: 9.49°
Phase Angle: 54.02°
North is to the right of the image.

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

Comet Encke

MESSENGER image of comet 2P/Encke during its closest approach to Mercury. At that time, Encke was approximately 2.3 million miles (3.7 million kilometers) from MESSENGER and 32.7 million miles (52.6 million kilometers) from the Sun. The image is 7° by 4.7° in size and has been slightly smoothed to enhance the faint tail of the comet. The tail was oriented nearly side on to MESSENGER in this image and is seen to stretch several degrees from the comet's bright coma in the direction away from the Sun.

MESSENGER's cameras have been acquiring targeted observations (watch an animation here) of Encke since October 28 and ISON since October 26, although the first faint detections didn't come until early November. During the closest approach of each comet to Mercury, the Mercury Atmospheric and Surface Composition Spectrometer (MASCS) and X-Ray Spectrometer (XRS) instruments also targeted the comets. Observations of ISON conclude on November 26, when the comet passes too close to the Sun, but MESSENGER will continue to monitor Encke with both the imagers and spectrometers through early December. Read this mission news story for more details.

Date acquired: 22:56 UTC on November 17, 2013
Instrument: Wide Angle Camera (WAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)

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

Note: For more information, see PIA17693: MESSENGER's First Images of Comets Encke and ISON and Two Comets to Fly By Mercury.

Discovery Rupes at Rameau Crater

Although one of Mercury's largest lobate scarps, Discovery Rupes is by no means an unusual type of landform on the innermost planet. In fact, scarps cover the surface, and are interpreted to be the result of crustal shortening as Mercury's interior cooled and contracted. In this dramatic view of Discovery Rupes, taken with the Sun low in the sky, the relief along 400-km-long structure can be clearly seen as it cross-cuts Rameau crater.

This image was acquired as a high-resolution targeted observation. Targeted observations are images of a small area on Mercury's surface at resolutions much higher than the 200-meter/pixel morphology base map. It is not possible to cover all of Mercury's surface at this high resolution, but typically several areas of high scientific interest are imaged in this mode each week.

Date acquired: September 23, 2013
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 22261149
Image ID: 4875898
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: -55.0°
Center Longitude: 322.2° E
Resolution: 246 meters/pixel
Scale: The field of view in this image is about 260 km (162 mi.) from top to bottom
Incidence Angle: 66.87°
Emission Angle: 39.74°
Phase Angle: 106.61°
North is to the top left of the image.

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

Face on Mercury

Can you see the face in this image? The two large craters towards the upper corners of this picture make eyes, and the prominent central peak is a perfect nose. It seems our model wasn't prepared for his MDIS photo shoot, as apparent from the perfect "O" mouth. This unnamed land form is part of a large, heavily cratered area in Mercury's northern hemisphere.

This image was acquired as part of MDIS's high-incidence-angle base map. The high-incidence-angle base map complements the surface morphology base map of MESSENGER's primary mission that was acquired under generally more moderate incidence angles. High incidence angles, achieved when the Sun is near the horizon, result in long shadows that accentuate the small-scale topography of geologic features. The high-incidence-angle base map was acquired with an average resolution of 200 meters/pixel.

Date acquired: October 04, 2013
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 23174065
Image ID: 4941357
Instrument: Wide Angle Camera (WAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
WAC filter: 7 (748 nanometers)
Center Latitude: 50.32°
Center Longitude: 314.1° E
Resolution: 171 meters/pixel
Scale: The image is approximately 207 km (~129 mi.) across.
Incidence Angle: 79.9°
Emission Angle: 31.4°
Phase Angle: 48.4°
North is down in this image.

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

Rough Ejecta Terrain Near Mozart Impact Basin

Wolfgang's namesake basin has had a large effect on Mercury. Ejecta from the 241-kilometer-diameter (150 mile) impact basin has left an enormous network of rough terrain, in beautiful contrast to the basin's smooth interior. Mozart basin lies just a hop, skip and a jump away from the planet's largest impact basin, Caloris.

This image was acquired as a high-resolution targeted observation. Targeted observations are images of a small area on Mercury's surface at resolutions much higher than the 200-meter/pixel morphology base map. It is not possible to cover all of Mercury's surface at this high resolution, but typically several areas of high scientific interest are imaged in this mode each week.

Date acquired: October 02, 2013
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 22999301
Image ID: 4929063
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: 12.52°
Center Longitude: 168.0° E
Resolution: 47 meters/pixel
Scale: The entire image is approximately 95 km (59 mi.) across.
Incidence Angle: 78.9°
Emission Angle: 59.6°
Phase Angle: 138.5°
North is down in this image.

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

Warhol Crater

The Warhol crater hosts one of the best collections of hollows found on Mercury's surface. The crater's central peak is surrounded by a network of small hollows and a smooth floor formed from impact melt. The hollows seen in the Warhol crater have high albedos, making them easy to see.

This image was acquired as a high-resolution targeted observation. Targeted observations are images of a small area on Mercury's surface at resolutions much higher than the 200-meter/pixel morphology base map. It is not possible to cover all of Mercury's surface at this high resolution, but typically several areas of high scientific interest are imaged in this mode each week.

Date acquired: September 23, 2013
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 22253846
Image ID: 4875892
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: -2.55°
Center Longitude: 354.1° E
Resolution: 79 meters/pixel
Scale: Warhol is about 91 km (~57 mi.) in diameter
Incidence Angle: 78.5°
Emission Angle: 35.1°
Phase Angle: 113.6°

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

Hollows and Pyroclastic Deposits in a Crater Near Caloris Basin

Today's image features several craters near the eastern edge of the Caloris basin. The larger craters have excavated low reflectance material, and both have hollows forming within their floors. Reddish deposits that exhibit a spectral signature similar to pyroclastics occur in the northeastern quadrant of this scene, suggesting that this region may have once been the site of explosive volcanism.

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: October 24, 2013
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 24470528, 24960452, 24470516
Image ID: 5033545, 5068359, 5033542
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: 23.72°
Center Longitude: 179.1° E
Resolution: 260 meters/pixel
Scale: The larger crater near the top of the image is approximately 54 km (33.5 mi.) in diameter.
Incidence Angle: 24.8°
Emission Angle: 8.4°
Phase Angle: 33.2°

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

Unnamed Crater with Rays North of Couperin Crater

Today's image features an unnamed crater located north of the crater Couperin. Although this crater is only about 6 km (3.7 mi.) in diameter, its bright rays cause it to stand out prominently in regional views of the planet. The rays are particularly distinctive because they fade into the blacker background of low reflectance material.

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: October 19, 2013
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 24470528, 24470520, 24470516
Image ID: 5033545, 5033543, 5033542
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: 35.86°
Center Longitude: 207.9° E
Resolution: 207 meters/pixel
Scale: This image is roughly 285 km (177 mi.) from corner to corner diagonally.
Incidence Angle: 37.1°
Emission Angle: 9.1°
Phase Angle: 41.6°

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

Ride Along With Messenger (Video 2)

This movie was assembled from 289 individual NAC images. Most of the images were acquired four seconds apart, the fastest that MDIS is capable of taking full resolution images, but this movie is shown with 15 images per second. The movie begins centered on the 191-km diameter Schubert basin.

These images were acquired as part of the NAC ride-along imaging campaign. When data volume is available and MDIS is not acquiring images for its other campaigns, high-resolution NAC images are obtained of the surface. These images are designed not to interfere with other instrument observations but take full advantage of periods during the mission when extra data volume is available.

Date acquired: October 04, 2013
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 23236906-23238062
Image ID: 4945775-4946063
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Initial Center Latitude: -42.67°
Initial Center Longitude: 306.1° E
Final Center Latitude: -50.20°
Final Center Longitude: 311.9° E
Resolution: 176-199 meters/pixel
Scale: The first image is 179 kilometers (111 miles) across
Incidence Angle: 74.3°-79.9°
Emission Angle: 3.6°-0.8°
Phase Angle: 77.9°-79.4°

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

Ride Along With Messenger (Video 1)

This movie was assembled from 284 individual NAC images. Most of the images were acquired four seconds apart, the fastest that MDIS is capable of taking full resolution images, but the movie is shown with 15 images per second. In the second half of the movie, Mirni Rupes can be seen in the top right.

These images were acquired as part of the NAC ride-along imaging campaign. When data volume is available and MDIS is not acquiring images for its other campaigns, high-resolution NAC images are obtained of the surface. These images are designed not to interfere with other instrument observations but take full advantage of periods during the mission when extra data volume is available.

Date acquired: October 04, 2013
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 23235568-23236706
Image ID: 4945491-4945774
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Initial Center Latitude: -33.79°
Initial Center Longitude: 310.4° E
Final Center Latitude: -43.43°
Final Center Longitude: 324.6° E
Resolution: 145-174 meters/pixel
Scale: The first image is 148 kilometers (92 miles) across
Incidence Angle: 75.7°-87.7°
Emission Angle: 3.0°-15.2°
Phase Angle: 72.6°-72.5°

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

Hopper Crater

This recently acquired image shows the crater Hopper, whose floor is home to a collection of hollows. Hopper's hollows bear a resemblance to the spectacular system of hollows seen on the floor of Kertesz crater. Hopper was named in December 2012 for the American painter Edward Hopper, whose most famous painting is Nighthawks.

This image was acquired as a high-resolution targeted observation. Targeted observations are images of a small area on Mercury's surface at resolutions much higher than the 200-meter/pixel morphology base map. It is not possible to cover all of Mercury's surface at this high resolution, but typically several areas of high scientific interest are imaged in this mode each week.

Date acquired: October 05, 2013
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 23291305
Image ID: 4949563
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: -11.95°
Center Longitude: 304.0° E
Resolution: 90 meters/pixel
Scale: Hopper has a diameter of 36 kilometers (22 miles)
Incidence Angle: 68.8°
Emission Angle: 4.7°
Phase Angle: 64.0°

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

New Quadrangle Maps of Mercury

A new set of Mercury maps are available on the USGS website. These maps utilize the current best MESSENGER mosaic of Mercury, which covers 100% of the surface. Mercury's surface is divided into 15 different quadrangles. The H-10 quadrangle, which is named for the crater Derain, is shown here at half the available resolution. For the full resolution map of this region, and all of Mercury's surface, visit the USGS website.

Map Quadrangles: H-10 Derain
Center Latitude: 0°
Center Longitude: 36° E (324° W)
Scale: Derain has a diameter of 167 km (104 miles)
USGS Maps of Mercury website: http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Page/mercuryQuadMap

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

Crescent Mercury

Although its geologic history was very different from that of our closest celestial neighbor, it's fun to see Mercury in the familiar crescent we associate with the Moon. Though the extreme viewing angle makes it hard to tell, this irregular pit is near the center of the sunlit sliver.

This image was acquired as part of MDIS's limb imaging campaign. Once per week, MDIS captures images of Mercury's limb, with an emphasis on imaging the southern hemisphere limb. These limb images provide information about Mercury's shape and complement measurements of topography made by the Mercury Laser Altimeter (MLA) of Mercury's northern hemisphere.

Date acquired: October 09, 2013
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 23631997
Image ID: 4974136
Instrument: Wide Angle Camera (WAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
WAC filter: 7 (748 nanometers)
Center Latitude: -53.19°
Center Longitude: 121.8° E
Resolution: 655 meters/pixel
Incidence Angle: 96.8°
Emission Angle: 67.9°
Phase Angle: 140.3°

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

Mercurial Limb, One Week Later

What a difference a week makes. Today's featured image was acquired earlier this month, one week after this image (PIA17579), showing how the lighting conditions change in an Earth week (but only about 4% of a Mercury day). Can you spot the crater with the prominent secondary chains? With the Sun now a bit higher above this crater (located about a quarter of the way up from the bottom of the frame), its floor appears smooth, and its crater chains can still be seen to stretch far from its rim.

This image was acquired as part of MDIS's limb imaging campaign. Once per week, MDIS captures images of Mercury's limb, with an emphasis on imaging the southern hemisphere limb. These limb images provide information about Mercury's shape and complement measurements of topography made by the Mercury Laser Altimeter (MLA) of Mercury's northern hemisphere.

Date acquired: October 09, 2013
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 23629938
Image ID: 4974132
Instrument: Wide Angle Camera (WAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
WAC filter: 7 (748 nanometers)
Center Latitude: -43.49°
Center Longitude: 150.4° E
Resolution: 1085 meters/pixel
Incidence Angle: 77.7°
Emission Angle: 57.7°
Phase Angle: 132.9°

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

Mercurial Limb

Another day, another beautiful view of Mercury's horizon. In this scene, which was acquired looking from the shadows toward the sunlit side of the planet, a 120-km (75 mile) impact crater stands out near the center. Emanating from this unnamed crater are striking chains of secondary craters, which gouged linear tracks radially away from the crater. While this crater is not especially fresh (its rays have faded into the background), it does appear to have more prominent secondary crater chains than many of its peers.

This image was acquired as part of MDIS's limb imaging campaign. Once per week, MDIS captures images of Mercury's limb, with an emphasis on imaging the southern hemisphere limb. These limb images provide information about Mercury's shape and complement measurements of topography made by the Mercury Laser Altimeter (MLA) of Mercury's northern hemisphere.

Date acquired: October 02, 2013
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 23055902
Image ID: 4933174
Instrument: Wide Angle Camera (WAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
WAC filter: 7 (748 nanometers)
Center Latitude: -52.13°
Center Longitude: 167.5° E
Resolution: 667 meters/pixel
Incidence Angle: 82.0°
Emission Angle: 69.4°
Phase Angle: 122.4°

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

Southwestern Rim of Caloris Basin

This image shows an area of the southwestern rim of the Caloris impact basin. The small hills in the lower left are part of the rim units, and the smooth surface to the right is part of the smooth plains within the basin. The scene lies right on a color boundary between darker rim material and higher-reflectance plains. Small hollows are found on the top of the hills, and small lobate scarps cross the area. The famous kidney-shaped pyroclastic vent is just to the east (right), out of the scene.

This image was acquired as a high-resolution targeted observation. Targeted observations are images of a small area on Mercury's surface at resolutions much higher than the 200-meter/pixel morphology base map. It is not possible to cover all of Mercury's surface at this high resolution, but typically several areas of high scientific interest are imaged in this mode each week.

Date acquired: July 03, 2013
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 15137794
Image ID: 4370103
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: 22.04°
Center Longitude: 143.6° E
Resolution: 42 meters/pixel
Scale: The scene is about 57 km (35 mi.) across
Incidence Angle: 68.7°
Emission Angle: 31.8°
Phase Angle: 100.1°
North is up in this image.

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

Earth

Launched on August 3, 2004, the MESSENGER spacecraft's trajectory took it back to Earth for a gravity assist flyby a year later. This image, taken on August 2, 2005 as MESSENGER prepared to depart again for the inner Solar System, shows the western margin of the South American continent (bottom), Mexico (top), and the tropical depression that would develop into Tropical Storm Harvey the next day (far right).

Today's image of Earth serves two purposes. First, it recalls the remarkable journey MESSENGER has undertaken since launch to become the first spacecraft to orbit Mercury. But it also reinforces the concept of comparative planetology that much of what we know of Mercury's geology is rooted in what we have learned from studying our home planet. Whether it be Mercury's large-scale tectonic deformation, its widespread volcanic resurfacing, or even how impacts have shaped its surface, Earth has given scientists a thorough grounding in the tools needed to understand the innermost planet.

Date acquired: August 2, 2005
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 31489858
Image ID: 1063
Instrument: Wide Angle Camera (WAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: -0.4°
Center Longitude: 269.8° E
Resolution: 7.6 kilometers/pixel
Scale: The field of view in this image covers approx. 64° of arc (7,137 km or 4,436 mi.) across Earth's surface
Incidence Angle: 22.5°
Emission Angle: 33.6°
Phase Angle: 55.5°
The north pole is to the top right in this image.

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

Contrast Stretch of Matisse Crater

Today's feature is the 748-nm filter image from from the October 21, 2013 color presentation. The graphs underneath the image illustrate a basic principle of image processing: the contrast stretch. A computer is typically capable of displaying a black and white ("greyscale") image as a series of pixels with 256 levels of brightness, between 0 (black) and 255 (white). Therefore, in order to be displayed, the numerical values of the image must be "stretched" to cover the range 0 to 255. In the case of a calibrated MDIS image, the image values are in physical units of reflectance -- that is, the percentage of incident light that the surface reflects. The graphs underneath the image are histograms. The x-axis is the range of pixel values that occur in the image, and the y-axis is the frequency of the values. The histogram on the lower left shows that the range of reflectance values in the image is from about 0.02 to 0.07 (or about 2% to 7% reflectance). The plot peaks at about 0.04, indicating that the most frequent pixel value is about 0.04. The plot on the lower right shows how the input pixel values have been scaled from 0 to 255 to produce the image above. Note that to display a color image (i.e., in red-green-blue), each of the three input color planes is stretched separately.

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: October 21, 2012
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 259266840
Image ID: 2803280
Instrument: Wide Angle Camera (WAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
WAC filter: 7 (748 nanometers)
Center Latitude: -23.00°
Center Longitude: 268.4° E
Resolution: 674 meters/pixel
Scale: The scene is about 890 km (553 mi.) across
Incidence Angle: 45.6°
Emission Angle: 33.5°
Phase Angle: 78.7°
North is up in this image.

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

Double Impact Crater and Digital Elevation Model

The unnamed crater featured in this image might look like a ringed basin at high sun angles, but as can be clearly seen from the inset perspective view, in which the height is exaggerated 5 times, the central portion is a second crater that impacted the middle of the older crater. Such perspective views make use of a digital elevation model (DEM), which can be constructed either by accumulating topographic profiles from the MLA instrument or from measurements of shadows in images (or "photoclinometry"). In this case, the basemap is draped over the Gaskell DEM, which is constructed using photoclinometry. You can make your own perspective views of Mercury's surface using the QuickMap tool.

This image was acquired as part of MDIS's high-resolution stereo imaging campaign. Images from the stereo imaging campaign are used in combination with the surface morphology base map or the albedo base map to create high-resolution stereo views of Mercury's surface, with an average resolution of 200 meters/pixel. Viewing the surface under the same Sun illumination conditions but from two or more viewing angles enables information about the small-scale topography of Mercury's surface to be obtained.

Date acquired: January 14, 2012
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 234999326
Image ID: 1263152
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: -42.23°
Center Longitude: 40.26° E
Resolution: 188 meters/pixel
Scale: The unnamed crater is ~83 km (52 mi.) across
Incidence Angle: 70.8°
Emission Angle: 22.9°
Phase Angle: 76.1°

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

Catullus Crater

Named for the Roman poet Gaius Valerius Catullus, this impact crater, 100 km (62 mi.) in diameter, has a smoothly textured floor like that seen elsewhere on Mercury. The western portion of the floor (right) abuts against the inner, terraced wall of the crater (middle), which is bordered by the surrounding, older terrain (left). Scientists know of two ways to render the floor of a crater smooth: impact melt or volcanism. It can be difficult to differentiate the two processes, however, and so the nature of the smooth material within Catullus remains unknown. However, in a larger view a depression can be seen in the center of Catullus that may be volcanic in nature -- and so too might the floor of the crater itself.

This image was acquired as a high-resolution targeted observation. Targeted observations are images of a small area on Mercury's surface at resolutions much higher than the 200-meter/pixel morphology base map. It is not possible to cover all of Mercury's surface at this high resolution, but typically several areas of high scientific interest are imaged in this mode each week.

Date acquired: August 8, 2013
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 18306428
Image ID: 4595268
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: 21.98°
Center Longitude: 293.43° E
Resolution: 39 meters/pixel
Scale: The field of view in this image is approx. 40 km (25 mi.) across
Incidence Angle: 68.1°
Emission Angle: 3.5°
Phase Angle: 71.6°
North is down in this image.

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

Pyroclastic Deposits at Matisse Crater

This color view of the vicinity of Matisse crater, seen in an early Gallery image from MESSENGER's first flyby of Mercury in 2008. Two unnamed craters formed tangentially to the rim of Matisse (one just inside the rim, and one just outside). These craters have bright orange deposits on their floors. High reflectance and a greater-than-average ("red") spectral slope create the orange appearance in this color presentation. Such color characteristics are found at many other locations on Mercury where pyroclastic volcanic eruptions took place.

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: October 21, 2012
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 259266820, 259266840, 259266824
Image ID: 2803275, 2803280, 2803276
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: -23.00°
Center Longitude: 268.4° E
Resolution: 674 meters/pixel
Scale: The scene is about 890 km (553 mi.) across; Matisse crater is about 186 km (116 mi.) in diameter
Incidence Angle: 45.6°
Emission Angle: 33.5°
Phase Angle: 78.7°
North is up in this image.

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

Steichen Impact Basin

The large, older crater featured in today's image is Steichen. At almost 200 km (124 mi.) across, Streichen is a complex impact basin, with a central peak ring that is partially buried by smooth crater floor deposits. Though much of the northwestern central peak ring is buried, one tiny, bright blue speck surrounded by a dark blue halo pokes up through the smooth floor deposits, hinting that hollows might be forming in a little patch of excavated low-reflectance material.

This image was acquired as part of MDIS's 8-color base map. The 8-color base map is composed of WAC images taken through eight different narrow-band color filters and covers more than 99% of Mercury's surface with an average resolution of 1 kilometer/pixel. The highest-quality color images are obtained for Mercury's surface when both the spacecraft and the Sun are overhead, so these images typically are taken with viewing conditions of low incidence and emission angles.

Date acquired: August 13, 2011
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 221758501, 221758509, 221758503
Image ID: 628307, 628312, 628308
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: -12.53°
Center Longitude: 78.18° E
Resolution: 623 meters/pixel
Scale: Steichen crater is 196 km (122 mi.) in diameter.
Incidence Angle: 48.3°
Emission Angle: 0.2°
Phase Angle: 48.2°

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

Lobate Scarp Cutting Through Unnamed Crater

Today's image features an unnamed crater 35 km (~22 mi.) in diameter that is cross-cut by a lobate scarp. Superposition relations such as these provide scientists with strong evidence that the surface of Mercury has been extensively shortened, likely in response to the cooling and contraction of the planet's interior through time. Additionally, the change in shape of a once-circular crater cut by a scarp provides a way to estimate the amount of horizontal shortening across that scarp. Such relations, therefore, offer an import insight into the broader geological development of Mercury!

This image was acquired as a high-resolution targeted observation. Targeted observations are images of a small area on Mercury's surface at resolutions much higher than the 200-meter/pixel morphology base map. It is not possible to cover all of Mercury's surface at this high resolution, but typically several areas of high scientific interest are imaged in this mode each week.

Date acquired: August 13, 2013
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 18677753
Image ID: 4621861
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: -7.05°
Center Longitude: 70.65° E
Resolution: 63 meters/pixel
Scale: The field of view in this image is approx. 80 km (50 mi.) across
Incidence Angle: 70.4°
Emission Angle: 32.8°
Phase Angle: 103.2°
North is up in this image.

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

Tansen Crater

First seen by Mariner 10 in 1974, Tansen has not been featured on MESSENGER's gallery until today. It is among Mercury's smaller named craters at just 27 kilometers (~17 mi.) in diameter. The ejecta rays formed by the impact appear prominent in this color mosaic, as does the small, fresh crater ejecta deposit at the very top of the image.

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: September 09, 2013
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 21069217, 21069209, 21069205
Image ID: 4791897, 4791895, 4791894
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: 3.84°
Center Longitude: 288.4° E
Resolution: 301 meters/pixel
Scale: Tansen is approximately 27 kilometers (17 mi.) in diameter
Incidence Angle: 31.7°
Emission Angle: 24.5°
Phase Angle: 56.2°

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

Kosho Crater

Today's image introduces crater Kosho, which sits in Mercury's northern hemisphere. Kosho, 65 km (~40 mi.) in diameter, is a complex crater. The long shadows in this image accentuate Kosho's central peak, which is approximately 2 km (~1.2 mi.) high. Kosho crater is named for a thirteenth century Japanese sculptor famous for his depictions of Buddhist Monks.

This image was acquired as part of MDIS's minimum-phase-angle color campaign. Near the north polar region, the incidence angle (measured from the vertical) is always fairly high because the Sun is low on the horizon. The minimum-phase-angle color campaign acquires images under conditions that minimize the shadows in an image by viewing the surface as nearly as possible from the same direction as the Sun's illumination, which minimizes the phase angle. Images are acquired through five of the WAC's narrow-band color filters, for regions north of 60° N, at an average resolution of 500 meters/pixel. The minimum-phase-angle color campaign began in March 2013.

Date acquired: September 17, 2013
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 21703926
Image ID: 4836915
Instrument: Wide Angle Camera (WAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
WAC filter: 7 (748 nanometers)
Center Latitude: 60.01°
Center Longitude: 220.2° E
Resolution: 269 meters/pixel
Scale: Kosho crater is approximately 65 km (40 mi.) in diameter
Incidence Angle: 83.3°
Emission Angle: 55.3°
Phase Angle: 28.0°

Photo credit:

Degas Crater

This close up of Degas crater shows off its grand central peaks, which are made up of sub-surface material uplifted by the impact. Over time, material from the tops of the central peaks has slid downslope, exposing fresh material that appears bright in this image. The long cracks appearing around the central peaks were likely formed as the impact melt in the bottom of the crater cooled.

This image was acquired as a high-resolution targeted observation. Targeted observations are images of a small area on Mercury's surface at resolutions much higher than the 200-meter/pixel morphology base map. It is not possible to cover all of Mercury's surface at this high resolution, but typically several areas of high scientific interest are imaged in this mode each week.

Date acquired: September 17, 2013
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 21761231
Image ID: 4841024
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: 36.99°
Center Longitude: 232.8° E
Resolution: 18 meters/pixel
Scale: Degas is 55 km (approximately 34 mi.) in diameter.
Incidence Angle: 67.9°
Emission Angle: 1.6°
Phase Angle: 66.2°
Orientation: North is towards the bottom of the image.

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

Neruda Crater

Today's image features Neruda crater, named for the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda. The crater exhibits several central peaks punctuated by a more recent, small crater, resulting in a rugged profile of ups and downs if one were to traverse the crater floor. Similarly, the crater's namesake Neruda experienced a number of ups and downs in his life, from success as a poet, through poverty, war and ultimately alleged poisoning.

Date acquired: July 24, 2012
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 251577944
Image ID: 2256593
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: -52.20°
Center Longitude: 125.3° E
Resolution: 142 meters/pixel
Scale: Neruda crater is 112 km (69 mi) in diameter
Incidence Angle: 80.4°
Emission Angle: 2.4°
Phase Angle: 78.0°

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

Hokusai Crater

This dramatic image features Hokusai in the foreground, famous for its extensive set of rays, some of which extend for over a thousand kilometers across Mercury's surface. The extensive, bright rays indicate that Hokusai is one of the youngest large craters on Mercury. Check out previously featured images to see high-resolution details of its central peaks, rim and ejecta blanket, and impact melt on its floor.

This image was acquired as part of MDIS's high-incidence-angle base map. The high-incidence-angle base map complements the surface morphology base map of MESSENGER's primary mission that was acquired under generally more moderate incidence angles. High incidence angles, achieved when the Sun is near the horizon, result in long shadows that accentuate the small-scale topography of geologic features. The high-incidence-angle base map was acquired with an average resolution of 200 meters/pixel.

Date acquired: September 17, 2013
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 21704875
Image ID: 4836938
Instrument: Wide Angle Camera (WAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
WAC filter: 7 (748 nanometers)
Center Latitude: 58.2.°
Center Longitude: 14.2.° E
Scale: Hokusai has a diameter of 114 km (71 miles)
Orientation: This image is oriented such that north is roughly to the right.

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

DeGraft Crater

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

Anaglyph of Volcanic Vent Near Discovery Rupes

Like yesterday's image, and the one from last week, today's image features the same potential volcanic vent. However, today's image is actually a combination of two additional images that were taken by the spacecraft 255 seconds apart. During that time of just over 4 minutes, the spacecraft had moved enough to provide slightly different viewing angles of the same surface, enabling this 3D representation to be made. Find a pair of red-cyan glasses to view the 3D image, and the image has been rotated such that north is to the left to enhance the 3D effect.

This image was acquired as a targeted set of stereo images. Targeted stereo observations are acquired at resolutions much higher than that of the 200-meter/pixel stereo base map. These targets acquired with the NAC enable the detailed topography of Mercury's surface to be determined for a local area of interest.

Date acquired: July 02, 2013
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 15108910, 15109165
Image ID: 4368031, 4368047
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: 24.28°
Center Longitude: 148.3° E
Resolution: 44 meters/pixel
Scale: This image is 40 km (25 miles) across
Incidence Angle: 72.2°
Emission Angle: 26.1°, 32.9°
Phase Angle: 98.2°, 96.3°

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

Possible Volcanic Vent Near Discovery Rupes

Different lighting conditions can reveal different insights into Mercury's surface. Check out this dramatic example of Discovery rupes. Today's image shows the same proposed volcanic vent that was featured last week, but this image was obtained with the Sun more nearly overhead. With this new view, you can see areas of the surface that were previously hidden in shadows.

This image was acquired as a high-resolution targeted observation. Targeted observations are images of a small area on Mercury's surface at resolutions much higher than the 200-meter/pixel morphology base map. It is not possible to cover all of Mercury's surface at this high resolution, but typically several areas of high scientific interest are imaged in this mode each week.

Date acquired: June 06, 2013
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 12831164
Image ID: 4206165
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: 24.34°
Center Longitude: 148.3° E
Resolution: 28 meters/pixel
Scale: The diameter of the small crater to the left of the proposed vent is about 5 km (3 miles)
Incidence Angle: 26.7°
Emission Angle: 8.5°
Phase Angle: 35.2°

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