Astronomy Picture of the Day · September 12, 1996

Mercury: A Cratered Inferno

The Astronomy Picture of the Day for September 12, 1996 is “Mercury: A Cratered Inferno,” an image. It is credited to Credit: Mariner 10, NASA. The original explanation runs about 145 words.

From the explanation

“Mercury’s surface looks similar to our Moon’s. Each is heavily cratered and made of rock.”

— APOD editors, September 12, 1996

Read the full explanation on science.nasa.gov

At a glance

Date: September 12, 1996
Type: Image
Credit: Credit: Mariner 10, NASA
Copyright: No copyright notice on the entry. Check the credited institution’s own usage rules before reusing it.
Explanation length: About 145 words

All of September 1996 → · 1996 by month → · Full archive since 1995 →

Topics in this entry

The Moon The Sun

Topics are matched from words in the title and explanation.

On this day: September 12 in other years

On Amazon

Popular picks for space fans

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Electronics Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition 32GB Read astronomy and space-history books anywhere. View on Amazon → Electronics Bose QuietComfort Wireless Headphones Noise-cancelling headphones for documentaries and launch livestreams. View on Amazon →

Source

Astronomy Picture of the Day, September 12, 1996 — science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-1996-september-12-mercury-a-cratered-inferno

Copy taken Oct 28, 2026, 2:39 AM EDT. The image and explanation belong to their creators. OpenOrbit is not affiliated with or endorsed by NASA.