PIA16949: An Extra Kidney?
 Target Name:  Mercury
 Is a satellite of:  Sol (our sun)
 Mission:  MESSENGER
 Spacecraft:  MESSENGER
 Instrument:  MDIS - Narrow Angle
 Product Size:  1442 x 1184 pixels (w x h)
 Produced By:  Johns Hopkins University/APL
 Full-Res TIFF:  PIA16949.tif (1.709 MB)
 Full-Res JPEG:  PIA16949.jpg (177.2 kB)

Click on the image above to download a moderately sized image in JPEG format (possibly reduced in size from original)

Original Caption Released with Image:

This image shows a possible volcanic vent located in the southeastern region of the Caloris basin. Though this irregularly shaped, rimless depression displays a more subtle color signature than other potential vents around Caloris, it is comparable in size to the kidney-shaped vent located in the southwestern region of Caloris.

This image was acquired as a high-resolution targeted observation. Targeted observations are images of a small area on Mercury's surface at resolutions much higher than the 200-meter/pixel morphology base map. It is not possible to cover all of Mercury's surface at this high resolution, but typically several areas of high scientific interest are imaged in this mode each week.

Date acquired: October 12, 2012
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 258513938
Image ID: 2750020
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: 24.29°
Center Longitude: 181.2° E
Resolution: 42 meters/pixel
Scale: This image is 55 km ( 34 mi.) across.
Incidence Angle: 76.3°
Emission Angle: 38.9°
Phase Angle: 115.2°

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. MESSENGER acquired over 150,000 images and extensive other data sets. MESSENGER is capable of continuing orbital operations until early 2015.

For information regarding the use of images, see the MESSENGER image use policy.

Image Credit:
NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington

Image Addition Date:
2013-04-05