BepiColumbo is a joint ESA-JAXA mission that is currently in space conducting operations. Recently, the ESA shared an image of the planet Mercury taken on October 1, 2021. The image was snapped as the BepiColumbo spacecraft flew past Mercury for any gravity assist maneuver.
The image was taken at 23:44:12 UTC using the Mercury Transfer Module’s Monitoring Camera 2. When the image was taken, the spacecraft was approximately 2418 kilometers from the surface of the planet. However, the closest approach the spacecraft will make to Mercury is about 199 kilometers, which happened at 23:34 UTC. It’s unclear why no images have been shared of the much closer approach.
The ESA says Monitoring Camera 2 provides black-and-white snapshots and resolution of 1024 by 1024. The portion of Mercury we see in the image is its northern hemisphere, including Sihtu Planitia, which has been covered by lava. The smoother and brighter portion in the image is the plains surrounding the Calvino crater, known as the Rudaki Plains.
One of the larger craters visible in the image is called Lermontov crater and measures 166 kilometers across. That crater is brighter than others on the surface of the planet because of a unique feature of Mercury known as “hollows.” Hollows are areas where volatile elements escape to space, and the crater has a vent where volcanic eruptions have occurred.
Those features will be studied in more detail once BepiColumbo is in orbit around Mercury. The gravity assists maneuver is the first of Mercury and constitutes the fourth out of nine total flybys the spacecraft will make. The mission will span seven years and will include flybys of multiple planets in the solar system. BepiColumbo’s Mercury Transfer Module contains a pair of science orbiters, including the ESA’s Mercury Planetary Orbiter and JAXA’s Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter.
Note: This article have been indexed to our site. We do not claim legitimacy, ownership or copyright of any of the content above. To see the article at original source Click Here
RockJam 61 Key Keyboard Piano With LCD Display Kit, Stand, Bench, Headphones, Simply App & Keynote Stickers
$139.99 (as of November 7, 2024 18:52 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Mineral Crystal Coffee Mugs, 2024 New Multi-Colored Mineral Crystal Coffee Mug, Natural Mineral Crystal Coffee Mug, Colorful Crystal Christmas Mugs, Elegant Christmas Gift for Home Office (Colorful-D)
$23.98 (as of November 7, 2024 18:48 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Double Story House 2024 Tiny House, Foldable Tiny Home with Well Equipped Bathroom & Kitchen, Portable, Cabin Prefab Space 20 FT, Tiny House to Live in, Modular Homes, Container House, Mobile House
$49,899.00 (as of November 7, 2024 18:52 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
2024 Taylor Christmas Advent Calendar Bracelets, 24 Days Christmas Advent Calendar Countdown Calendar for Music Lovers,Fans,Teens and Friends-TS DIY Bracelets Kit Vacation Gifts Idea Bracelets
$13.99 (as of November 7, 2024 18:48 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
