| Mercury:
View of the Caloris Basin |
3.2
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Mariner
10 view of the Caloris basin, covering an area about 1100 km across. Only
half of the Caloris basin has been seen, because the other half was in darkness
during each Mariner 10 fly-by. The Caloris basin occupies the centre left
of the left-hand view in the hemispheric
image. |
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| Image
Credit:
NASA |
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| Seen
here is part of the enormous Caloris Basin, which is thought to be similar
to the large circular basins found on the moon. Probably formed by a giant
impact early in Mercury's history, this basin was subsequently filled by
lava flows. The nature of the wrinkle ridges on its floor is arguable: some
scientists claim tectonics while others suggest they are due to volcanic
flows escaping from fractures. |
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