First color image from Mercury orbit

Filed under pretty pictures, Mercury, MESSENGER

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This false-color view of Mercury represents the start of MESSENGER's work to systematically map the innermost planet from orbit. MESSENGER's wide-angle camera has a filter wheel with 11 different color filters, some in visible wavelengths and some in infrared; different combinations of images taken in different filters can yield colorful views showing variation in surface composition. This image was made from three captured through infrared and blue filters.

NASA / JHUAPL / CIW

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Contact us to request publication permission from the copyright holder. Original image data dated on or about March 29, 2011