Lunar Impact Craters and Surfaces

High-resolution images of lunar terrain featuring various impact craters, surface textures, and geological formations in grayscale. Evokes a sense of desolation and exploration.

And the Walls Came Tumbling Down

The Apollo Basin, a large double-ringed impact crater in the southern hemisphere of the far side.

Tears Roll Down

Shortened Surfaces

A Newly Pictured Pit-Floor Crater

Archimedes - Mare Flooded Crater

This image, taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft, shows dwarf planet Ceres from an altitude of 2,700 miles (4,400 kilometers). The image, with a resolution of 1,400 feet (410 meters) per pixel, was taken on June 25, 2015.

X Marks the Spot

This northern hemisphere scene from NASA's Dawn spacecraft, taken on Oct. 20, 2016, features Ceres' Messor Crater, exhibiting a flow feature from the collapse of the rim of an adjacent crater.

Scientists have discovered these wrinkle ridges in a region of the Moon called Mare Frigoris. These ridges add to evidence that the Moon has an actively changing surface. This image was taken by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO).

And the Walls Came Tumbling Down

This view of Ceres from NASA's Dawn spacecraft shows the rim of Sintana Crater (36 miles, 58 kilometers wide) was taken on May 27, 2016.

A Crackin' Good Time

This image shows a portion of the northern hemisphere of Ceres, as seen by NASA's Dawn spacecraft. Cozobi Crater is the sharply defined impact feature at top left. At far right is Victa Crater. Abellio Crater is sharply defined crater with a central peak.

Scours and Scarps

Xevioso Crater is the small (5.3 miles, 8.5 kilometers in diameter) crater associated with bright ejecta toward the top of this image, taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft. It is one of the newly named craters on Ceres. Xevioso is located in the vicinity of Ahuna Mons, the tall, lonely mountain seen toward the bottom of the picture. Given that the small impact that formed Xevioso was able to excavate bright material, scientists suspect the material may be found at shallow depth. Its nature and relationship to other bright regions on Ceres is under analysis. The asymmetrical distribution of this bright ejecta indicates Xevioso formed via an oblique impact. Another view of Xevioso can be found here. Xevioso is named for the Fon god of thunder and fertility from the Kingdom of Dahomey, which was located in a region that is now the west African country of Benin. Dawn acquired this picture on October 15, 2015, from its high altitude mapping orbit at about 915 miles (1,470 kilometers) above the s

Snowmen on Mercury

This view of dwarf planet Ceres from NASA's Dawn spacecraft shows Kaikara Crater, the largest impact crater in this image taken on Oct. 20, 2016.

This view from NASA's Dawn spacecraft shows an area in the interior of Yalode Crater on Ceres. Yalode is one of the largest impact basins on Ceres, with a diameter of 160 miles (260 kilometers).

This image, taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft, shows the heavily cratered rim of an older, unnamed impact feature on Ceres. The crater density is almost the same inside and outside, and its wall is also quite battered by impacts.

This view from NASA's Dawn spacecraft, captured on June 1, 2016, shows Rongo Crater, located near Ceres' equator.

This scene from Ceres, captured by NASA's Dawn spacecraft, shows an older crater (at top center) that has been blanketed by impact ejecta from the younger crater to its right.

This image, taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft, shows a portion of the northern hemisphere on dwarf planet Ceres on June 24, 2015. The largest crater in this image, in the lower right quadrant, is called Ezinu. It is 75 miles (120 kilometers) across.

Smooth terrain around the western rim of Ikapati Crater on Ceres is visible in this image from NASA's Dawn spacecraft. The area contains material ejected from Ikapati during its formation.

This image from NASA's Dawn spacecraft shows linear grooves and ridges in Vesta's regolith, located in Vesta's Tuccia quadrangle, in asteroid Vesta's southern hemisphere.

This image is located just inside the southern rim of Chong Chol crater and was obtained on April 25, 2015, the day following NASA's MESSENGER's final orbital correction maneuver. The spacecraft's fuel tanks are now completely empty.

Sunrise image of the Eratosthenes central peak summit.

Eros' North Polar Region

This view, taken on June 3, 2016, from NASA's Dawn spacecraft shows an area within the floor of the Mondamin impact basin, which lies in the southern hemisphere of Ceres. Mondamin Crater is about 78 miles (126 kilometers) in diameter.

Achita Crater on Ceres was named for the Nigerian god of agriculture. NASA's Dawn spacecraft took this image of the crater on January 15, 2016. Achita is located in the northern hemisphere.

Crossed Craters

Living in Anonymity

This image, taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft, shows a portion of the northern hemisphere of dwarf planet Ceres from an altitude of 915 miles (1,470 kilometers). The image, with a resolution of 450 feet (140 meters) per pixel, was taken on August 21, 2015.

The Moon in very close-up. In the center and from top to bottom, the craters Theophile, Cyril and Catherine. On their right the Sea of Nectars.

This image, taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft, shows dwarf planet Ceres from an altitude of 2,700 miles (4,400 kilometers). The image, with a resolution of 1,400 feet (410 meters) per pixel, was taken on June 22, 2015.

This image from NASA's Dawn spacecraft shows terrain within Chaminuka Crater on Ceres. Chaminuka was named for the spirit who provides rains during times of drought, according to the legends of the Shona people of Zimbabwe.

Purcell and the Wall

This image, taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft, shows the surface of dwarf planet Ceres from an altitude of 915 miles (1,470 kilometers). The image was taken on September 14, 2015, and has a resolution of 450 feet (140 meters) per pixel.

The lunar highlands exhibit rhythmic patterns thought to result from slow, downslope creep of the loose regolith (soil). These subtle patterns are most easily seen when the Sun is low to the horizon in this image taken by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbit

NASA's Dawn spacecraft obtained this image of asteroid Vesta's south polar region with its framing camera on August 12, 2011. The image has a resolution of about 260 meters per pixel.

This view in the Meridiani Planum region of Mars shows the region around NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity. The rover, in the seventh year of its exploration of Mars, is in the upper central portion of the image.

This image from NASA's Dawn spacecraft shows a raised mound material overlying the brighter material that makes up the floor of the south polar depression of asteroid Vesta. Many small scale craters are clear in this image.

Big Things Have Small Beginnings

Zadeni Crater on Ceres is featured in this image from NASA's Dawn spacecraft. This large southern-hemisphere crater is 79.5 miles (128 kilometers) in diameter and is named for an ancient Georgian god of bountiful harvest.

NASA's Mariner 10 photo reveals a heavily cratered terrain on Mercury with a prominent scrap extending several hundred kilometers across the upper left. A crater, nested in a larger crater, is at top center.

Terrain seen in this view from NASA's Dawn spacecraft is in the northern hemisphere of Ceres. A sharp cliff separates Dada Crater, the smaller crater at top center, from Roskva Crater, the larger crater at left.

The Stars and Stripes Forever

Equatorial troughs of asteroid Vesta are shown running obliquely across this image from NASA's Dawn spacecraft. The troughs both overlie and are overlain by impact craters.

This image was obtained by NASA's Dawn spacecraft on July 5, 2018 from an altitude of about 32 miles (51 kilometers). The center of this picture is located at about 18.8 degrees north latitude and 240.7 degrees east longitude.

In this densely cratered area of Ceres, NASA's Dawn spacecraft spotted Tupo Crater, with its complex, hummocky interior, at center right. A portion of the rim of Darzamat Crater appears with dark shadows at lower left.

Secondary Concerns

This image from NASA's Dawn spacecraft shows a large number of craters, formed by collisions into the surface of asteroid Vesta. The relatively large circular depressions in this image are older, heavily degraded impact craters.

The Details of a Ray

This view from NASA's Dawn spacecraft shows a fresh crater among older terrain on Ceres, typical of the terrain of the dwarf planet.

This view, taken on Oct. 22, 2016, from NASA's Dawn spacecraft shows the rim of Yalode Crater on Ceres at upper left. Yalode is one of the largest impact basins on Ceres.

Following the Family Pasch

Rugged highland terrain on the farside of the Moon, south of Cantor crater.

This two-in-one view of Dione from NASA's Cassini spacecraft includes the mission's highest-resolution view of the Saturnian moon's icy surface.

Volcanic Vent Vacant Void!

Parallel Lines

This view of Ezinu Crater on Ceres was taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft on Oct. 19, 2015. Ezinu is the large crater in the top left corner of the image and contains a canyon-like feature near its center.

This image, from NASA's Mariner 10 spacecraft which launched in 1974, was taken during the spacecraft's first encounter with Mercury.

Enwonwu: A Young Crater on Mercury Named for an African Modernist Artist

This image of Oppia AV-L-22, from the atlas of the giant asteroid Vesta, was created from images taken as NASA's Dawn mission flew around the object, also known as a protoplanet.

It's Not My Fault

Toc-crater and Fugue

The rim of Ezinu Crater is seen in this view from NASA's Dawn spacecraft.

This image of Serena AV-L-18, from the atlas of the giant asteroid Vesta, was created from images taken as NASA's Dawn mission flew around the object, also known as a protoplanet.

Boulders perched on the summit of the central peak of Tsiolkovskiy crater are seen in this image from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.

This image from NASA's Dawn spacecraft is located in Lucaria Tholus quadrangle, in Vesta's northern hemisphere. Around Publicia's rim are many alternating streaks of bright and dark material tumbling down towards its center.

I Walk the Line

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter's showing a string of secondary craters from an impact crater to the north, probably Giordano Bruno.

Shakespeare for Valentine's Day

Explosive Allegations

This image, taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft, shows a knobby surface on Ceres. The region is adjacent to the giant impact crater Urvara.

It's Not Just a Good Idea, It's the Law

Visible in the center of this image is the crater Copland taken by NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft.

NASA's Dawn spacecraft obtained this image of asteroid Vesta with its framing camera on Aug. 28, 2011. This image of the south polar region was taken through the camera's clear filter at a distance of 1,700 miles (2,740 kilometers).

Nureyev Crater

The two large craters on the right of this image are overprinted with smaller, more recent craters of Saturn's moon Rhea in this view from NASA's Cassini spacecraft.

Closeup view of the western terrace of Necho crater.

Much of the northwestern floor of Copernicus appears smooth and relatively featureless.

One-two Punch

This view from NASA's Dawn spacecraft, taken on Oct. 17, 2015, from an altitude of 915 miles (1,470 kilometers), shows southern mid-latitudes on Ceres, including a relatively fresh crater near upper left.

This image, taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft, shows a portion of the northern hemisphere of dwarf planet Ceres from an altitude of 915 miles (1,470 kilometers). The image was taken on Sept. 21, 2015, and has a resolution of 450 feet (140 meters) per pixel.

This image from NASA's Dawn spacecraft shows numerous grooves (linear depressions) and crater chains, especially in the right hand side of the image of asteroid Vesta.

The Monster of All Worlds

A very young impact crater in Balmer basin.

THEMIS Images as Art #9

$This image shows the rim of Ikapati Crater on Ceres, which lies in the dwarf planet's northern hemisphere. Groupings of roughly parallel, narrow, linear fractures can be seen inside and outside the crater.$

Pits and Scarps

During NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft's flyby of Mercury on January 14, 2008, part of the planned sequence of observations included taking images of the same portion of Mercury's surface from five different viewing angles.

This picture from NASA's Dawn spacecraft shows craters in the northern hemisphere of Ceres. The large crater at lower left displays several bright streaks on its walls.

Flecks of bright material can be seen in this image of Ceres, taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft. Dawn took this image on Dec. 19, 2015, at an approximate altitude of 240 miles (385 kilometers) above Ceres.

This image from NASA's Dawn spacecraft shows an area in Vesta's northern hemisphere that has been illuminated by the sun. As asteroid Vesta progresses from its winter to its spring the sunlight is creeping further and further northwards.

A Ghost Story

Double Feature

converted PNM file

This image from NASA's Dawn spacecraft shows a portion of Homshuk Crater, left, on Ceres. This crater was named for a corn spirit originating with the Popoluca people of southern Mexico.

This image, taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft, shows dwarf planet Ceres from an altitude of 2,700 miles (4,400 kilometers). The image, with a resolution of 1,400 feet (410 meters) per pixel, was taken on June 21, 2015.

This image from NASA's Dawn spacecraft, located in asteroid Vesta's Urbinia quadrangle in the Vestan southern hemisphere, shows a small crater with ejecta made of dark material.

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