BepiColombo's Sixth Mercury Flyby Captures Stunning Close-Up Images

The spacecraft's final flyby before entering Mercury's orbit in 2026 reveals icy craters, volcanic plains, and the planet's largest impact basin.

BepiColombo flew just 183 miles above Mercury's surface, capturing high-resolution images of the planet's north pole and surrounding regions.
The spacecraft imaged permanently shadowed craters at the north pole, some of the coldest places in the solar system, which may contain frozen water.
Volcanic plains, including Borealis Planitia, were highlighted, showcasing lava flows from 3.7 billion years ago that reshaped Mercury's surface.
The Caloris Basin, Mercury's largest impact crater spanning over 930 miles, and bright features from younger volcanic and impact activity were observed.
This flyby marks the last close-up imaging opportunity before BepiColombo enters orbit in late 2026, with scientific operations set to begin in 2027.