Date acquired: April 29, 2013
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 9578636, 9578628, 9578624
Image ID: 3974705, 3974703, 3974702
Instrument: Wide Angle Camera (WAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
WAC filters: 9, 7, 6 (996, 748, 433 nanometers) in red, green, and blue
Center Latitude: -16.28°
Center Longitude: 198.4° E
Resolution: 436 meters/pixel
Scale: The inner ring of Tolstoj is 365 km (~226.8 mi)
Incidence Angle: 18.1°
Emission Angle: 44.9°
Phase Angle: 28.0°

Of Interest: This color image highlights Tolstoj basin's light interior and darker, low reflectance material (LRM) filled surroundings. The LRM in this region stands out in contrast to the smooth plains within Tolstoj and the bright rays of the young crater on the right.

This image was acquired as a targeted high-resolution 11-color image set. Acquiring 11-color targets is a new campaign that began in March 2013 and that utilizes all of the WAC's 11 narrow-band color filters. Because of the large data volume involved, only features of special scientific interest are targeted for imaging in all 11 colors.

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.