NASA’s MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry and Ranging mission (MESSENGER) delivers striking images of the surface of the planet closest to the sun
Mosaic
A section of the floor and peak-ring mountains of the Raditladi impact basin. Released on September 29, 2011, the individual frames in this mosaic are about 20 km wide.NASA / Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory / Carnegie Institution of Washington
Blue Ring
An image of the Raditladi impact basin, 258 km. in diameter, captured by MESSENGER as it flew past Mercury for the first time. In this color-enhanced image released on September 29, 2011, the ring of central-peak mountains render as a bright blue.NASA / Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory / Carnegie Institution of Washington
Lava Flow
An image made by MESSENGER and released September 29, 2011 shows a "ghost" crater, 90 km in diameter, a circular feature in the volcanic plains outlined by ridges. Its formation suggests that the outpouring of the volcanic plains has buried a preexisting impact crater.NASA / Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory / Carnegie Institution of Washington
Detailed View of Mercury
The northern plains of Mercury, part of MESSENGER's color base map imaging campaign, which collects images taken through eight filters at an average resolution of 1.2 km/pixel. Image released June 16, 2011.NASA / Johns Hopkins Univ. Applied Physics Laboratory / Carnegie Institution of Washington
Crescent View
This image was acquired May 24, 2011, as the MESSENGER spacecraft was high above Mercury's southern hemisphere.NASA / Johns Hopkins Univ. Applied Physics Laboratory / Carnegie Institution of Washington
Craters of Darkness
The largest crater here, located in the upper left portion of the image, is Belinskij, named for the 19th century Russian literary critic and journalist Vissarion Grigoryevich Belinskij. Date acquired: May 23, 2011.NASA / Johns Hopkins Univ. Applied Physics Laboratory / Carnegie Institution of Washington
Surface
This striking image was acquired May 19, 2011, as MESSENGER used its pivot to look toward the southeast, which is oriented as the top of the image.NASA / Johns Hopkins Univ. Applied Physics Laboratory / Carnegie Institution of Washington
Basins
An unnamed basin, largely filled with smooth plains, occupies most of this image. Acquired May 14, 2011.NASA / Johns Hopkins Univ. Applied Physics Laboratory / Carnegie Institution of Washington
Atget
At a diameter of 100 km, this crater is one of the largest craters within the Caloris basin. Date acquired: May 10, 2011.Another Look at Atget
At a diameter of 100 km, the crater Atget is one of the largest craters within the Caloris basin.
Date acquired: May 10, 2011
Image Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington