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Credit & Copyright: NASA,
Johns Hopkins Univ. APL,
Arizona State Univ., CIW
Explanation:
One of the largest young craters on Mercury,
114 kilometer (71 mile) diameter Hokusai crater's bright
rays are known to extend across
much of the planet.
But this mosaic of oblique views focuses on Hokusai close up,
its sunlit
central peaks, terraced
crater walls, and
frozen sea of impact melt on the
crater's floor.
The images were captured by the MESSENGER spacecraft.
The first to orbit Mercury,
since 2011 MESSENGER has conducted
scientific explorations, including
extensive imaging of the
Solar System's innermost planet.
Now running out of propellant and unable to counter orbital
perturbations caused by the Sun's gravity,
MESSENGER is predicted to
impact
the surface of Mercury on April 30.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Mercury - crater
Publications with words: Mercury - crater
See also: