The BepiColombo spacecraft recently flew past Mercury for its fifth time, providing new insights into the planet’s temperature and composition. Launched in 2018, the spacecraft is now scheduled to arrive at Mercury in November 2026, about a year later than initially planned. Its recent flyby revealed details of Mercury’s surface temperatures, roughness, and constituent minerals using its Mercury Radiometer and Thermal Infrared Spectrometer (MERTIS) instrument.
The MERTIS data showed the surface temperature of Mercury to be around 788°F (420°C). The instrument captured images of the planet in mid-infrared light, providing a new level of detail about its surface features. The spacecraft observed the Bashō Crater, an impact crater previously seen by other missions, and was able to distinguish it from the surrounding terrain at mid-infrared wavelengths.
Researchers are thrilled with the data, which is considered “fantastic” according to Jörn Helbert, co-principal investigator of the MERTIS instrument. The images reveal surface features that have never been observed before in this way, offering a wealth of information for scientists studying Mercury’s global surface mineralogy.
The recent observations provide a sneak peek into what scientists will experience when BepiColombo arrives at Mercury in 2026. With its advanced technology and instruments, the spacecraft is poised to deliver new insights into the planet’s geology and composition.
Source: https://gizmodo.com/hidden-details-of-mercurys-surface-revealed-in-groundbreaking-infrared-imaging-2000536057