This 3D view, made up of two pairs of stereo images, shows Balanchine crater, which is located inside of Caloris basin. The floor of Balanchine is covered in hollows. The crater formed on top of an older crater and excavated low reflectance material.

These image pairs were 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 18, 2014
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 40112892, 40112896, 40112968, 40112972
Image ID: 6145582, 6145583, 6145588, 6145589
Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Center Latitude: 38.18°, 38.78°, 38.09°, 38.77°
Center Longitude: 175.1° E, 175.0° E, 175.2° E, 175.1° E
Resolution: 29 meters/pixel
Scale: Balanchine crater is approximately 41 km (25 mi.) in diameter.
Incidence Angle: 39.9°, 40.5°, 39.8°, 40.4°
Emission Angle: 7.9°, 7.7°, 10.6°, 12.6°
Phase Angle: 41.1°, 39.1°, 31.0°, 29.2°
North is to the right.

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. During the first two years of orbital operations, 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.