Catullus in 3-D

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Caption:

With your red-cyan glasses on, check out this stereo view inside the complex crater Catullus . Here you can see the central peaks rising above the relatively smooth floor of the crater. To the right of the peaks, a large, irregularly shaped pit sinks down below the level of the crater floor. This pit may have formed due to past volcanic activity within the impact crater.

These images were 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 25, 2014
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 48654092, 48654444
Image ID: 6751776, 6751777
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: 21.91°
Center Longitude: 292.8° E
Resolution: 48 meters/pixel
Scale: Pit is approximately 18 km (11 miles) across
Incidence Angle: 68.5°
Emission Angle: 11.9°
Phase Angle: 73.0°

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. During the first two years of orbital operations, 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 .

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