Astrophoto Lab
---your online source for astronomical and satellite images--- RETURN
Home
Welcome!
General Information
Special Galleries
AstroIndex
EarthIndex
Deep Space
Galaxies
Nebulae
Stars, Supernovae
Solar System
Earth from Space
NASA Space Programs
Other Astro Images
Posters
Space Image Gallery
Useful Links
Credits & Useage
Feedback
Signup
File: PIA16853
Name: Mercury
Satellite of: Sol (our sun)
Mission: MESSENGER
Center Latitude:
Center Longitude: 140° E
Scale: Mercury's diameter is 4880 km (3030 miles)
Map Projection: orthographic
Image Credit: Johns Hopkins University/APL
Release Date: February 18, 2013

Colors of the Innermost Planet - View 1

This colorful view of Mercury was produced by using images from the color base map imaging campaign during MESSENGER's primary mission. These colors are not what Mercury would look like to the human eye, but rather the colors enhance the chemical, mineralogical, and physical differences between the rocks that make up Mercury's surface.

Young crater rays, extending radially from fresh impact craters, appear light blue or white. Medium- and dark-blue areas are a geologic unit of Mercury's crust known as the "low-reflectance material", thought to be rich in a dark, opaque mineral. Tan areas are plains formed by eruption of highly fluid lavas. The giant Caloris basin is the large circular tan feature located just to the upper right of center of the image.

To see the other side of the planet view this image.

Buy a Print
Click Here