Side Hit

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Caption:

This image features a simple crater in the northern smooth plains . Superimposed on the wall of this crater is another impact crater. The smaller crater is elliptical in shape, which is most likely due to being formed on a slope on the larger crater's wall. It also appears that this impact event caused material to slide down the crater wall, which can be seen in this high-resolution image.

This image was acquired as part of the MDIS low-altitude imaging campaign. During MESSENGER's second extended mission, the spacecraft makes a progressively closer approach to Mercury's surface than at any previous point in the mission, enabling the acquisition of high-spatial-resolution data. For spacecraft altitudes below 350 kilometers, NAC images are acquired with pixel scales ranging from 20 meters to as little as 2 meters.

Date acquired: July 19, 2014
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 48103544
Image ID: 6712882
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: 72.72°
Center Longitude: 313.7° E
Resolution: 17 meters/pixel
Scale: This image is about 9 km (5.5 miles) across.
Incidence Angle: 78.6°
Emission Angle: 0.3°
Phase Angle: 78.9°

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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