Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun, residing just 36 million miles from our Solar System’s center. However, not too far above its surface, the European Space Agency’s BepiColombo probe has taken the most detailed photos of the first planet ever.
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00:00Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun, residing just 36 million miles from our solar
00:08system's center.
00:09However, not too far above its surface, the European Space Agency's BepiColombo probe
00:14has taken the most detailed photos of the first planet ever.
00:18These images were captured just 183 miles above the surface of the planet, meaning these
00:23were taken at a distance of about 70 miles closer to Mercury than the International Space
00:27Station is to Earth.
00:28This one in particular shows just what a dichotomy of atmospheric conditions awaits
00:32anything on the surface.
00:33While in the Sun, temperatures reach beyond 800 degrees Fahrenheit.
00:37Meanwhile, any areas not touched by its light drop to around minus 292 degrees Fahrenheit.
00:43BepiColombo's mission began way back in 2018 and is now set to figure out how Mercury works,
00:49including deciphering its peculiar magnetic field.
00:52Mercury also has a ton of carbon present near its surface, which experts say could actually
00:56be a layer of diamond.
00:58The next step includes the release of two more Mercury orbiters.
01:01However, these are the closest images set to be taken during the entirety of the mission.