The European Space Agency (ESA) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) have released stunning close-up images of Mercury’s cratered surface captured during the BepiColombo mission’s recent flyby. The spacecraft flew by Mercury on January 8, providing a unique glimpse into the planet’s geological features.
According to ESA, the images reveal icy craters at the north pole, which are some of the coldest places in the solar system. Scientists believe that these craters may hold frozen water, which is expected to be studied during the mission. The flyby also captured images of Mercury’s volcanic plains, including the large Mendelssohn crater.
The ESA has selected three top images from the flyby, showcasing the planet’s unique features. One image shows a crater at the north pole, while another captures the volcanic landscape with a large crater in the foreground. A third image highlights a lighter-colored volcanic deposit in the upper part of the planet.
BepiColombo is a joint mission to study Mercury’s composition, geophysics, atmosphere, magnetosphere, and history. The spacecraft launched in 2018 and will eventually enter orbit around Mercury by late 2026. The mission aims to provide insights into the formation of rocky planets like Earth and understanding how the inner solar system evolved.
The BepiColombo flyby images offer a tantalizing preview of the science that is yet to come, and scientists are eager to learn more about this enigmatic planet.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/amandakooser/2025/01/10/mysterious-mercury-stars-in-majestic-new-bepicolombo-spacecraft-images