The European Space Agency’s (ESA) BepiColombo probe recently flew past Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun, capturing incredible images of its surface. These photos, taken at only 295 kilometers altitude, offer an unprecedented insight into the mysteries that this planet holds.
A planet of extreme contrasts
BepiColombo’s images reveal a world marked by striking contrasts. Craters of a perpetual darkness rub shoulders with regions bathed in intense sunlight. These areas ofpermanent shadowslocated at poles of the planetcould harbor glacea vestige of a distant past and potentially rich in information on the history of Mercury.
This flyover is just one step in BepiColombo’s long journey. The probe, launched in 2018,’s mission is to study Mercury in detail, particularly its magnetic fieldson tenuous exosphere and its surface. The data collected during this and previous flights will allow scientists to better understand this still largely unknown planet.
Mercury: a planet with many enigmas
Mercury is an atypical planet. Barely larger than the Luneit is subjected to extreme conditions. The temperatures on its surface vary from -180°C to 430°Cdue to the lack of a dense atmosphere to regulate heat. Beneath its surface, Mercury hides secrets that intrigue scientists: a magnetic field of unknown origin, a possible carbon reserve in the form of diamond and geological activity that could explain its slow shrinkage.
Images from BepiColombo also revealed evidence of past volcanic activity. The structure Nathair Faculavisible in one of the photos, testifies to the largest known volcanic eruption on Mercury. The crater Fontfor its part, is more recent, formed approximately 300 million years.
Valuable images to understand the evolution of Mercury
These observations, combined with data collected by BepiColombo’s instruments, will allow scientists to reconstruct the geological history of Mercury and understand how this planet has evolved over time. The images reveal a world shaped by meteorite impactsTHE volcanic eruptions and erosion due to solar wind.
After this successful flyby, BepiColombo will continue its journey to Mercury. In 2026the probe will make a final flyby before entering orbit around the planet. Two orbiters, one European and the other Japanese, will then be deployed to study Mercury more closely. The images captured by BepiColombo during this flyby offer a fascinating insight into Mercury and its mysteries. They also demonstrate the importance of space exploration to better understand our solar system and the worlds that make it up.
