Date acquired: May 05, 2013
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 10096377
Image ID: 4011552
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: 27.39°
Center Longitude: 146.3° E
Resolution: 30 meters/pixel
Scale: Kertész crater is ~31 kilometers (19 miles) in diameter.
Incidence Angle: 43.9°
Emission Angle: 30.2°
Phase Angle: 46.5°

Of Interest: This close up image features the bright hollows on Kertész crater's floor. A more dramatic view of Kertész crater with a much higher incidence angle can be viewed here. Also grab your 3D glasses and check out Kertész in 3D!

This image 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.

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.

Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington

For information regarding the use of MESSENGER images, see the image use policy.