These new photos reveal features that scientists eagerly anticipate studying when BepiColombo enters Mercury’s orbit in late 2026, unlocking mysteries about the planet’s surface and composition.
On January 8, 2025, BepiColombo approached Mercury’s nightside, coming as close as 295 kilometers to the planet’s surface. Moments later, it passed over Mercury’s north pole, offering scientists an unprecedented view of the tiny world. These flybys are preparatory maneuvers for the spacecraft’s final insertion into a polar orbit, scheduled for November 2026.
At the European Space Agency’s Annual Press Briefing, Director General Josef Aschbacher showcased the new images, highlighting the immense scientific potential of the mission. “Every flyby has brought us closer to understanding Mercury,” said Geraint Jones, BepiColombo’s Project Scientist. The data from these passes provides vital insights ahead of the mission’s primary phase.
Ice in Mercury’s Craters?
Despite its scorching proximity to the Sun, Mercury harbors some of the coldest spots in the solar system—shadowed craters at its poles. BepiColombo’s images reveal the rims and dark interiors of craters such as Prokofiev and Kandinsky, areas suspected of containing water ice. Investigating these craters will be a key focus for the mission, as scientists aim to understand how ice can exist on a planet so close to the Sun.
One striking feature captured is Nathair Facula, the site of Mercury’s largest known volcanic explosion. Spanning 300 kilometers, this ancient vent shows evidence of at least three major eruptions. Nearby, the Fonteyn crater, formed 300 million years ago, stands out due to its bright ejecta—debris scattered by the asteroid impact.
Mercury’s surface tells a tale of immense geological activity. The Borealis Planitia, a vast plain formed by lava flows 3.7 billion years ago, dominates the northern region. As the planet cooled, its surface contracted, leaving behind wrinkled plains now visible in the images. Craters like Mendelssohn and Rustaveli, buried under layers of solidified lava, hint at a dynamic past shaped by both volcanic and impact events.
A Closer Look at the Caloris Basin
One of the most intriguing sights from BepiColombo’s images is the Caloris basin, Mercury’s largest impact crater, spanning over 1,500 kilometers. Nearby, a boomerang-shaped lava flow raises questions about its connection to the basin. Did the lava flow into or out of the Caloris basin? Future studies aim to answer this and more.
While the recent images offer a tantalizing glimpse into Mercury’s geology, the mission’s true potential lies ahead. Once BepiColombo enters orbit, it will closely examine Mercury’s volcanic history, surface composition, and mysterious darkening of materials over time.
“Each flyby has been a stepping stone toward unveiling Mercury’s secrets,” said Frank Budnik, BepiColombo’s Flight Dynamics Manager. With every piece of data, scientists move closer to solving the puzzles of this enigmatic planet.
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