March 1 2013 Colors of Mercury
This picture shows Mercury, our solar system's innermost planet. Mercury has an orbital period of 88 days and can reach 800 degrees Fahrenheit on its surface. This image was taken using the MESSENGER (MErcury Surface Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging) spacecraft which is orbiting Mercury. This photo is enhanced to show color because the human eye would not be able to discern the colorful features visible here. The colors are real though and reflect the chemicals and minerals present on the surface. The Caloris basin can be seen in the upper right hand corner. It was created by an asteroid which struck the planet in the early days of the solar system. After the impact, lava entered the basin and created the feature which can now be seen.
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