Image credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics
Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington Uploader comment:
In this image, Mercury's cratered surface stretches to the
horizon. Limb images with the Wide Angle Camera (WAC) have been
a part of MDIS imaging campaigns since the beginning of orbital
operations. A few months ago, in June 2012, NAC images of
Mercury's limb were added to the regular weekly observations,
resulting in a few images each week with dramatic views of
Mercury's horizon such as seen here. View this previous post to
see a stunning mosaic of NAC limb images. This image was
acquired as part of MDIS's limb imaging campaign. Once per week,
MDIS captures images of Mercury's limb, with an emphasis on
imaging the southern hemisphere limb. These limb images provide
information about Mercury's shape and complement measurements of
topography made by the Mercury Laser Altimeter (MLA) of
Mercury's northern hemisphere. The MESSENGER spacecraft is the
first ever to orbit the planet Mercury,