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A Pitted Peak
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Caption:
The impact crater at the top center of this image is characterized by a sharp rim and high-reflectance ejecta. Lobes of slumped material are found where the wall meets the floor. The central peak is notable because it contains a pit. A recent survey 1 found 27 central pit craters on Mercury. All of these central pit craters are located in plains units , but the mechanism by which the pits form is uncertain.
1 Z. Xiao and G. Komatsu (2013), Impact craters with ejecta flows and central pits on Mercury, Planetary and Space Science , vol. 82-83, pp. 62-78.
This image was acquired as part of MDIS's high-resolution surface morphology base map. The surface morphology base map covers more than 99% of Mercury's surface with an average resolution of 200 meters/pixel. Images acquired for the surface morphology base map typically are obtained at off-vertical Sun angles (i.e., high incidence angles) and have visible shadows so as to reveal clearly the topographic form of geologic features.
Date acquired:
July 17, 2011
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET):
219350124
Image ID:
513704
Instrument:
Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude:
19.42°
Center Longitude:
63.27° E
Resolution:
143 meters/pixel
Scale:
The impact crater of interest is about 17 km (11 mi.) in diameter
Incidence Angle:
59.8°
Emission Angle:
12.8°
Phase Angle:
47.0°
Background Info:
The MESSENGER spacecraft is the first ever to orbit the planet Mercury, and the spacecraft's seven scientific instruments and radio science investigation are unraveling the history and evolution of the Solar System's innermost planet. MESSENGER acquired over 150,000 images and extensive other data sets. MESSENGER is capable of continuing orbital operations until early 2015.
For information regarding the use of images, see the MESSENGER image use policy .
Cataloging Keywords:
| Name | Value | Additional Values |
|---|---|---|
| Target | Mercury | |
| System | ||
| Target Type | Planet | |
| Mission | MESSENGER | |
| Instrument Host | MESSENGER | |
| Host Type | Orbiter | |
| Instrument | Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS) | |
| Detector | Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) | |
| Extra Keywords | Crater, Grayscale, Impact, Map, Radio, Shadow | |
| Acquisition Date | ||
| Release Date | 2014-01-10 | |
| Date in Caption | 2011-07-17 | |
| Image Credit | NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington | |
| Source | photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA17867 | |
| Identifier | PIA17867 | |
