Standing On the Edge

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Caption:

This exciting image, taken at a highly oblique angle, shows the interior of Tyagaraja crater (with north being to the right). Complete with central peaks , extensive hollows , and sloping terraced walls , this view allows us to get a unique perspective into the crater and complements other images by adding a different look at the topography of the surface.

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, 2011
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 229624183
Image ID: 1005096
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: 4.40°
Center Longitude: 211.4° E
Resolution: 39 meters/pixel
Scale: Tyagaraja has a diameter of 97 kilometers (60 miles)
Incidence Angle: 9.4°
Emission Angle: 68.8°
Phase Angle: 78.3°

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 .

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