MESSENGER Spacecraft Reveals New Insights into Mercury with Latest Images

Astronomers are learning a bit more about Mercury with the help of the MESSENGER spacecraft. The Visual and Infrared Spectrometer (VIRS) has now collected single tracks of spectral surface measurements to tell researchers a bit more about the exosphere and surface of the planet.

Now, the track coverage is extensive enough that the spectral properties of both broad terrains and small, distinct features can be studied. This means that researchers have a whole new way to look at and understand the planet Mercury.

The MESSENGER spacecraft is the first ever to orbit the planet Mercury. The spacecraft's seven scientific instruments and radio science investigation are actually unraveling the history and the evolution of the solar system's innermost planet. For more than four years, MESSENGER has worked on acquiring images and extensive data.

The small, distinct features now included in this latest research include pyroclastic vents and fresh craters. The scientists also accentuated the geological context of the spectral measurements by overlaying the Mercury Atmosphere and Surface Composition Spectrometer (MASCS) data on the monochrome mosaic from the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS). This instrument has wide- and narrow-angle cameras that can map the rugged landforms and spectral variations on Mercury's surface.

While MESSENGER has been highly successful over the years, though, its mission is about to come to an end. The spacecraft is running out of propellant, which means that the force of solar gravity will cause it to slam into Mercury. Scientists currently predict that it will make its final landing near the end of April 2015.

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