Double Feature

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Caption:

These two relatively fresh craters , ~34 km (21 mi.) and ~20 km (12 mi.) across, share a rim and both contain slumped material . Did they form during the same event, by two impactors? Did the rim of the large, highly degraded crater on the right side of the image influence the structure of the shared rim? Higher-resolution images taken during MESSENGER's final year of operations may help to elucidate their origin.

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: October 12, 2011
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 226922649
Image ID: 876240
Instrument: Wide Angle Camera (WAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
WAC filter: 7 (748 nanometers)
Center Latitude: 64.76°
Center Longitude: 255.5° E
Resolution: 269 meters/pixel
Scale: The large crater at the image center is approximately 34 km (21 mi.) across.
Incidence Angle: 72.9°
Emission Angle: 14.3°
Phase Angle: 60.6°

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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