Scarlatti Crater

The peak-ring basin Scarlatti is seen at the center of this image. While Scarlatti has a typical peak ring in many respects, in the northeast section it transitions to a large (approximately 30 km) pit surrounded by high-reflectance material. This pit may be the site of past explosive volcanic activity.

This image was acquired as a targeted 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: March 30, 2014
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 38528557, 38528553, 38528551
Image ID: 6032934, 6032932, 6032931
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: 40.7°
Center Longitude: 258.9° E
Scale: Scarlatti basin is 132 km (82 miles) in diameter

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

Dürer Peak-Ring Basin

This image, taken at a high emission angle, helps the eye to see the three-dimensional nature of the scene. Dürer, a peak-ring basin, can be seen in the foreground. Dürer's peak ring is dotted with hollows. North is to the left in this image.

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): 26946160
Image ID: 5209643
Instrument: Wide Angle Camera (WAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
WAC filter: 7 (748 nanometers)
Center Latitude: 20.68°
Center Longitude: 244.9° E
Resolution: 236 meters/pixel
Scale: Dürer basin is approximately 195 km (121 mi.) in diameter.
Incidence Angle: 67.1°
Emission Angle: 62.9°
Phase Angle: 30.0°

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

Double Trouble

This image, taken by the Narrow Angle Camera (NAC), shows the double rings of an unnamed peak-ring basin. Concentric ring structures like these form during the impact that creates a basin; the number and characteristics of the rings depend on the size of the impact structure and the gravity of the planet.

Date acquired: July 20, 2011
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 219644470
Image ID: 527930
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: -17.66°
Center Longitude: 45.56° E
Resolution: 175 meters/pixel
Scale: The large double ring basin is about 172 km (107 miles) in diameter.
Incidence Angle: 65.6°
Emission Angle: 0.7°
Phase Angle: 66.1°

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