First full-planet topological map of Mercury released
MAY 09, 2016
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.029806
Mashable : On Friday, researchers from the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory released the first full-planet mapping of elevations on Mercury. The map was produced from data collected by the MESSENGER spacecraft, which finished its mission roughly one year ago. To produce the map, the scientists used more than one-third of the 300 000 images of Mercury taken by MESSENGER. From the images, the researchers calculated the average ground level and then measured the lowest and highest points on the planet, with the lowest point being 5.38 km below the average and the highest point 4.48 km above the average.
© 2016 American Institute of Physics
