Rudaki Plains and Crater

Last week (April 2009), MESSENGER team members presented the results from 4 papers published in the 1st of May issue of the "Science" magazine at a NASA media teleconference. The color views shown here of the Plains near Rudaki Crater was just one of the graphics presented at that teleconference (nota: NO. La versione che vedete su queste pagine è quella ottenuta da Lunar Explorer Italia, applicando la metodologia Multispettrale).
The left image was created by combining WAC images from three narrow-band color filters to approximate Mercury's color as it would be seen by the human eye. The right image used a statistical analysis of all 11 WAC filters to highlight subtle color differences on the surface, as has been used for many previous releases, such as ones focused on Thakur Crater and Caloris Basin.

Date Acquired: October 6, 2008
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 131770571-131770621
Instrument: Wide Angle Camera (WAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS).
WAC Filters: Left image: 3, 4, 5 (480, 560, 630 nanometers). Right Image: statistical analysis involving all 11 WAC filters
Scale: The crater in the center of the image is approx. 68 Km (about 42 miles) in diameter
Spacecraft Altitude: about 2800 Km (approx. 1700 miles)