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> Mercury by Messenger- Jan 14 2008

Mercury by Messenger- Jan 14 2008

author: Nasa/JHUAPL/ Carnegie Institution of Washington/Novapix

reference: a-mer04-00001

Image Size 300 DPI: 9 * 9 cm

This image was taken on January 14, 2008 by NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft at a distance of approximately 17,000 miles following the spacecraft's closest approach to Mercury. The image shows features as small as 6 miles in size. On the upper right is the giant Caloris basin, including its western portions never before seen by spacecraft. Formed by the impact of a large asteroid or comet, Caloris is one of the largest, and perhaps one of the youngest basins in the solar system.

Keywords for this photo:

2008 - ASTRONOMY - BLACK AND WHITE - CALORIS BASIN - MERCURY - MESSENGER - PLANET -