Waters in 3-D!

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Caption:

More 3D to end this week, with this spectacular view of Waters crater . Waters is a fresh, rayed crater that is best known for the dark impact melt flow spilling out of the crater.

This image pair was 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: August 31, 2014
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 51775548, 51775733
Image ID: 6972960, 6972961
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: -8.97°
Center Longitude: 254.6° E
Resolution: 29 meters/pixel
Scale: Waters crater is approximately 15 km (9.3 mi.) in diameter.
Incidence Angle: 55.0°
Emission Angle: 15.3°
Phase Angle: 66.2°, 62.7°
North is to the right in this image.

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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