The mysteries of Mercury, our solar system’s smallest and closest planet to the Sun, have come into sharper focus thanks to a breathtaking cosmic maneuver. This week, the European and Japanese robotic explorer, BepiColombo, brushed as close as 183 miles (295 kilometers) above Mercury’s shadowy night side. In a dramatic sweep, the spacecraft passed directly over the planet’s north pole, capturing awe-inspiring views of permanently shadowed craters and expansive volcanic plains.
The European Space Agency released these stunning snapshots on Thursday, showcasing Mercury’s enigmatic terrain. Among the highlights are the permanently shadowed craters near the planet's north pole—areas that have likely remained untouched by sunlight for billions of years. The spacecraft also captured Mercury’s largest impact crater, an imposing geological feature stretching over 930 miles (1,500 kilometers) wide, offering a window into the planet’s tumultuous past.
This recent flyby marked a milestone as the sixth and final gravitational assist for BepiColombo before it begins orbiting Mercury late next year. Launched in 2018, the mission represents a unique collaboration between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Once in orbit, BepiColombo will deploy two scientific orbiters: one from ESA and the other from JAXA, designed to circle the planet’s poles and unravel its secrets.
The spacecraft bears the name of Giuseppe “Bepi” Colombo, a brilliant Italian mathematician whose pioneering work influenced NASA’s Mariner 10 mission in the 1970s and later contributed to the Italian Space Agency’s tethered satellite projects.
As BepiColombo edges closer to its ultimate mission, the tantalizing images and data it has provided remind us of humanity's unyielding curiosity and ingenuity. This daring encounter is a testament to international collaboration and the spirit of exploration, as we continue to push the boundaries of what we know about the smallest, most elusive planet in our solar system.