The Architect and His Temple

One of the most captivating views acquired during NASA MESSENGER first Mercury flyby was of the crater Apollodorus surrounded by the radiating troughs of Pantheon Fossae.

One of the most captivating views acquired during NASA MESSENGER first Mercury flyby was of the crater Apollodorus surrounded by the radiating troughs of Pantheon Fossae. The team nicknamed the combined feature as "the spider." Since then, MESSENGER has acquired many other striking views of this unique feature located near the center of Caloris basin. Although Apollodorus of Damascus (the namesake of the crater) is thought to be the architect of the Pantheon in Rome (the namesake of the fossae), the crater Apollodorus is thought to be unrelated to the creation of Pantheon Fossae. Instrument: Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS) Center Latitude: 39.1° Center Longitude: 164.3° E Scale: Apollodorus has a diameter of 42 kilometers (26 miles) http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA19410