Today's image features a color view of the peak-ringed crater Aksakov. The inner ring of Aksakov is superimposed by another crater. Both the central peak of this smaller crater and one of the northeastern massifs of the inner peak ring have small areas of hollows.

Date acquired: January 20, 2015
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 64086765, 64086724, 64086704
Image ID: 7831102, 7831098, 7831096
Instrument: Wide Angle Camera (WAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
WAC filters: 9, 7, 6 (996, 748, 433 nanometers) in red, green, and blue
Center Latitude: 35.61°
Center Longitude: 280.9° E
Resolution: 255 meters/pixel
Scale: Aksakov crater is 173.6 km (108 mi.) in diameter.
Incidence Angle: 81.0°
Emission Angle: 20.8°
Phase Angle: 101.8°

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.