Peak-ring impact basin on Mercury

Peak-ring impact basin on Mercury
Peak-ring impact basin on Mercury This spectacular 290-km-diameter double-ring basin seen in detail for the first time during MESSENGER's third flyby of Mercury is remarkably well preserved and appears to have formed relatively recently, compared with most basins on Mercury. The low numbers of superposed impact craters and marked differences in color across the basin suggest that the smooth area within the innermost ring may be the site of some of the most recent volcanism on Mercury. NASA / JHUAPL / CIW