Mercury: Images of a Violent Planet

This full-resolution image suggests the different compositions and nature of regions on Mercury's surface. As seen here, smooth young plains cover the lower topography on the left. Dark and relatively blue material was ejected from the 165 mile-diameter crater on the lower right, covering the older, smooth plains. A small crater then formed and rose through the blue material to reveal more smooth plains beneath. The total width of the scene is 385 miles. (NASA )