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For anyone skipping the article - This is actually a composite image and not a single photo.

Its not a composite photo either. It's a fully artificial visualization based on real topographical and composition data. EDIT: nope, I was wrong, it's actually based on a real satellite photo that was then stretched to give the illusion of a perspective from low altitude: https://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2018/12/Plan_view_o...

> artificial visualization based on real topographical and composition data

Yes, that's what they mean by a composite.

"Composite photo" means "multiple photos combined together" not "artificial picture generated from information on chemical composition".

They used topographic data and visual imaging to create the "composite" image, that's accurately described as a composite in my book. Similar to zooming around a city in Google Earth.

Here's the top down view (still quite spectacular!):

http://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2018/12/Plan_view_of...

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