BepiColombo Probe Reveals Crater-Riddled Surface of Mercury
The BepiColombo probe, a joint European-Japanese mission, has completed its third close flyby of Mercury, providing scientists with stunning images of the planet’s surface. Launched in 2018, the mission is now entering the final leg of its seven-year journey through the inner solar system.
During this recent flyby, BepiColombo relied on the gravitational pull of Earth, Venus, and Mercury to slow itself down and transition from the sun’s orbit to Mercury’s orbit, which is expected to happen in late 2025.
Flying just 236 km (150 miles) from the surface of Mercury, the probe captured detailed measurements of the planet’s environment and took pictures of its burned surface. The European Space Agency (ESA) wasted no time in releasing the first batch of these new images, less than 24 hours after the close flyby occurred on Monday at 3:34 p.m. EDT (19:34 GMT).
The images unveiled a “geological bounty” of craters, ancient volcanic mounds, and lava flows, according to the ESA. One particularly intriguing feature is a newly named crater called Edna Manley, after a Jamaican-British artist who passed away in 1987.
David Rothery, a Professor of Planetary Geosciences at the UK’s Open University and a member of BepiColombo Science Imaging, explained the significance of this discovery. He stated, “This is of interest to BepiColombo scientists in the future because it is revealing traces of a dark, low-reflectivity material, which may be the carbon-rich remnants of Mercury’s early crust. In addition, smooth lava flooded the floor of the basin within, indicative of Mercury’s prolonged history of volcanic activity.”
The BepiColombo probe also spotted the Beagle Rupes, a 600 km (370 mile) ridge that formed billions of years ago when Mercury was still young and undergoing cooling and contraction. This cliff was initially discovered by NASA’s Messenger mission, which flew around Mercury between 2011 and 2015. Scientists are now eager to compare the scenes captured by Messenger with those captured by BepiColombo.
The images also revealed a variety of ancient impact basins that were engulfed by lava during Mercury’s early years when it was still tectonically active. Valentina Galluzzi, a member of the BepiColombo team and a scientist at the Italian National Institute of Astrophysics, expressed her excitement about studying the tectonic history of Mercury in this area. She said, “The complex interaction between these impact basins shows that as the planet cools and contracts, it causes the surface crust to slide, creating a variety of exotic features that we will pursue in more detail once in orbit.”
Unfortunately, the spacecraft was unable to capture images during its closest approach as it approached the planet from the night side. The closest images were taken at a distance of 3,500 km (2,170 miles), approximately 20 minutes after the closest approach.
The BepiColombo mission continues to provide valuable insights into the mysteries of Mercury, and scientists eagerly await the wealth of data that will be collected once the probe enters orbit around the planet.
What insights can be gained from studying the ancient volcanic mounds and lava flows on Mercury’s surface
Lombo’s science team, described the images as “jaw-dropping.” The crater-filled surface of Mercury revealed by the probe is a testament to the planet’s violent past.
Mercury, the closest planet to the sun, has a surface that is heavily scarred by impact craters. These craters, formed by collisions with asteroids and comets, are a common feature on rocky bodies in our solar system. However, the sheer number and variety of craters observed on Mercury’s surface is remarkable.
The newly named Edna Manley crater stands out among the others. Its distinctive features, including a central peak and a raised rim, suggest that it was formed by a particularly violent impact. The crater is named after the renowned artist Edna Manley, in honor of her contributions to the art world.
In addition to the craters, the BepiColombo images also captured ancient volcanic mounds and lava flows on Mercury’s surface. These features provide valuable insights into the planet’s geological history and the processes that have shaped its surface over billions of years.
The data collected by BepiColombo will help scientists better understand Mercury’s composition, geology, and magnetic field. It will also shed light on the planet’s formation and evolution, offering clues about the early stages of our solar system.
The BepiColombo mission, a collaboration between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), is equipped with a suite of scientific instruments to study Mercury in detail. The probe is comprised of two spacecraft: the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO). The MPO will orbit Mercury and map its surface, while the MMO will study the planet’s magnetic field and its interaction with the solar wind.
After completing its flybys of Mercury, BepiColombo will enter a phase of orbit insertion, where it will gradually slow down and maneuver itself into a stable orbit around the planet. This intricate maneuvering is necessary to counteract the strong gravitational pull of the sun and ensure that the spacecraft remains in a stable orbit around Mercury.
The BepiColombo mission is expected to provide unprecedented insights into the innermost planet of our solar system. By studying Mercury, scientists hope to unlock the secrets of its formation and better understand the processes that shaped all terrestrial planets, including Earth.
The astonishing close flyby of Mercury by BepiColombo has provided us with mesmerizing images of its crater-riddled surface, unraveling the mysteries of our solar system’s smallest and hottest planet.