Xiao Zhao's Rays Paint Mercury's Surface

Xiao Zhao's Rays Paint Mercury's Surface

Release Date: May 19, 2008

Date Acquired: January 14, 2008 Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 108828473 Instrument: Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS) Resolution: 500 meter/pixel (0.3 miles/pixel) Scale: Xiao Zhao crater is 23 kilometers (14 miles) in diameter Spacecraft Altitude: 19,760 kilometers (12,280 miles) Of Interest: Recently named after the 12th century Chinese artist, Xiao Zhao crater on the central left side of this image is small in comparison with many other craters on Mercury and even with many other craters in this scene. However, Xiao Zhao's long bright rays make it a readily visible feature. The fresh, bright rays, which were created by material ejected outward during the impact event that formed the crater, indicate that Xiao Zhao is a relatively young crater on Mercury's surface.

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

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