Rustaveli Crater (Absolute Natural Colors; credits for the additional process. and color.: Dr Paolo C. Fienga/Lunar Explorer Italia/Italian Planetary Foundation)

This Absolute Natural Color Image-Mosaic shows the Rustaveli Crater, a newly named Impact Basin located in the Northern Hemisphere of Mercury. The Basin has a smooth, filled Floor with little weathering and a Peak-ring Structure. Shota Rustaveli was a Georgian poet who lived from 1172-1216. He is well known for writing the Georgian National Epic Poem, "The Knight in the Panther's Skin". He is also the namesake of the coveted Shota Rustaveli State Prize, the highest honor a Georgian artist or writer can achieve.

Date acquired: July 18, 2011
Image Mission Elapsed Time (MET): 219478808, 219478804, 219478800
Image ID: 519956, 519955, 519954
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: 52,40° North
Center Longitude: 81,79° East
Resolution: 187 meters/pixel
Scale: the diameter of Rustaveli basin is roughly 180 Km (such as approx. 112 miles).
Solar Incidence Angle: 59,8° (meaning that the Sun was about 30,2° above the imaged Local Horizon at the time that the picturs were taken)
Emission Angle: 30,6°
Sun-Mercury-MESSENGER (or "Phase") Angle: 90,4°