BepiColombo captures stunning icy craters on Mercury flyby

On January 8, 2025, the BepiColombo probe flew past Mercury for the sixth time, and the first images have just begun to arrive on Earth. This is the first joint mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to study the closest planet to the Sun. The spacecraft flew just a few hundred kilometers above the planet's north pole. These close-up images reveal likely icy craters, whose interiors remain in constant shadow, along with vast sunlit northern plains.

BepiColombo flew just 183 miles above Mercury's surface during its cold and dark night, then passed over the north pole, continuing its path near the illuminated northern side of the planet. ESA has released the first images.

The main goal of M-CAM, the probe's monitoring cameras, was to record Mercury's surface during the flyby, which opens up further research opportunities. This was the last chance for the M-CAM cameras to capture such close-up shots of the planet before the module they're attached to separates, allowing the ESA and JAXA orbiters to begin independent missions.

The observations made after passing through the planet's shadow revealed Mercury's surface in unprecedented detail. Shadowed craters at the north pole, such as those belonging to Prokofiev and Tolkien, remain some of the coldest places in the Solar System due to their persistent darkness, despite being near the Sun. The presence of frozen water in these areas is suspected, presenting a puzzle that BepiColombo will continue to investigate during its mission.

Further views captured by M-CAM 1 include the extensive volcanic plains of Borealis Planitia. This terrain originates from massive lava eruptions about 3.7 billion years ago, where flowing lava filled existing craters, creating a distinctive surface appearance. The characteristic wrinkles formed as a result of further cooling of the planet's interior.

The images also revealed bright areas, such as Nathair Facula, where the largest volcanic eruption on Mercury occurred. The materials ejected during this activity signify its youth compared to the rest of the planet's dark surface. BepiColombo continues to study the composition and age of these materials, providing insights into the planet's geological transformations.

The mission of the BepiColombo probe, launched on October 20, 2018, is a joint undertaking of ESA and JAXA and marks the first European expedition to Mercury. After arriving at Mercury at the end of 2026, the probe will separate, and both orbiters will maneuver into their dedicated polar orbits around the planet. Commencing scientific operations in early 2027, both orbiters will collect data during a nominal one-year mission, with a possible one-year extension.