Today's image is another chance to whip out your red-cyan 3D glasses! This multidimensional view, where north is to the left, helps bring to life the extensive hollow network on the crater floor. Look how these bright, irregular depressions create such a dramatic etched appearance!

This image was acquired as a targeted set of stereo images. Targeted stereo observations are acquired at resolutions much higher than that of the 200-meter/pixel stereo base map. These targets acquired with the NAC enable the detailed topography of Mercury's surface to be determined for a local area of interest.

Date acquired: April 24, 2013
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 9145650, 9145778
Image ID: 3944041, 3944042
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: 40.26°
Center Longitude: 221.9° E
Resolution: 24 meters/pixel, 28 meters/pixel
Scale: Crater diameter is about 35 km (21.7 miles)
Incidence Angle: 44.6°
Emission Angle: 2.1° 19.9°
Phase Angle: 43.3° 29.4°

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.