Credit & Copyright:
Mariner 10 Project
NASA,
Explanation:
Like the Earth's Moon,
Mercury is scarred with craters,
testifying to an intense bombardment during the early history of
the Solar System.
In 1974,
the Mariner 10 spacecraft
surveyed this innermost planet up close,
producing the only detailed images of its tortured surface.
In the above mosaic the bright rays
emanating from the 27 mile wide
Degas crater almost appear to be painted on.
The rays consist of light colored material blasted out during the
crater's formation. Numerous smaller, younger craters are seen
superposed on the Degas crater itself.
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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: