Date acquired: February 02, 2013
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 2146122
Image ID: 3446326
Instrument: Wide Angle Camera (WAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
WAC filter: 7 (748 nanometers)
Center Latitude: 23.56°
Center Longitude: 1.96° E
Resolution: 212 meters/pixel
Scale: de Graft crater is approximately 68 km (42 mi.) in diameter.
Incidence Angle: 24.1°
Emission Angle: 9.9°
Phase Angle: 34.0°

Of Interest: This fascinating image emphasizes hollows on de Graft's crater floor. Hollows are interesting features unique to Mercury's surface; they are bright, irregular depressions that create an etched appearance on crater walls and floors on the planet. Click here to see this region in color, and here to see de Graft under different lighting conditions.

This image was acquired as part of MDIS's high-resolution stereo imaging campaign. Images from the stereo imaging campaign are used in combination with the surface morphology base map or the albedo base map to create high-resolution stereo views of Mercury's surface, with an average resolution of 200 meters/pixel. Viewing the surface under the same Sun illumination conditions but from two or more viewing angles enables information about the small-scale topography of Mercury's surface to be obtained.

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.