A joint Japanese-European mission to Mercury has captured stunning images of the planet’s north pole, revealing permanently shadowed craters that may contain thick deposits of water ice. The BepiColombo spacecraft, which will enter orbit around Mercury in 2026, recently conducted its sixth flyby of the planet and sent back a series of striking photos.
The images show the perpetually shadowed Prokofiev, Kandinsky, Tolkien, and Gordimer craters, as well as Borealis Planitia, a region with massive lava flows that occurred around 3.7 billion years ago. The pictures also reveal Mercury’s largest impact crater and a mysterious boomerang-shaped lava flow.
Mercury’s surface can reach extreme temperatures, ranging from 800°F (430°C) during the day to -290°F (-180°C) at night. However, due to its lack of atmosphere, dark areas are cold, not hot. The north pole craters, which are always in shadow, are believed to contain thick deposits of water ice.
The BepiColombo spacecraft is now conducting a series of flybys to prepare for its orbit around Mercury, which will begin in 2026. Once in orbit, the spacecraft will separate into two orbiters that will focus on the planet’s north and south poles. The mission aims to answer questions about water ice on Mercury and the composition of its surface.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/space/mercury/see-mercurys-frigid-north-pole-in-extraordinary-new-images-from-the-bepicolombo-spacecraft