Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Barrack: We call upon Druze, Bedouins, and Sunnis to put down their weapons and together with other minorities build a new and united Syrian identity building peace and prosperity with their neighbors
US Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa supported by the US have agreed to a ceasefire embraced by Türkiye, Jordan, and their neighbors
YAF spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree: We carried out a top-tier operation targeting Ben Gurion Airport in Lydd with a Palestine 2 hypersonic ballistic missile
Israeli media: Israelis in the Gush Dan area and al-Quds were asked to enter shelters immediately
Sirens sound in Tel Aviv and occupied al-Quds after a missile was launched from Yemen
Sheikh Qassem: We are ready to defend ourselves if 'Israel' attacks us in a way that we believe calls for us to defend ourselves
Sheikh Qassem: "Israel" will never be handed over our weapons
Sheikh Qassem: He who refuses so and accepts humiliation, that is their own business, but for us, we will not accept humiliation. We have made great sacrifices, and our strength has helped us achieve this result
Sheikh Qassem: Be patient with the issue of exclusivity of arms with the state in the face of the great danger that will not spare Lebanon; let us speak with one voice and work for the sake of priority
Sheikh Qassem: Lebanon faces three real dangers: 'Israel', ISIS tools on the eastern border, and US tyranny

The First Pictures of Mercury, the Closest Planet to the Sun!

  • By Al Mayadeen
  • Source: Agencies
  • 3 Oct 2021 19:11
  • 1 Shares
2 Min Read

The cameras of the BepiColombo spacecraft satellite capture black and white images of Mercury for the first time since its launch in 2018.

  • x
  • The pictured region of Mercury demonstrated large craters and an area flooded by lava billions of years ago.
    The pictured region of Mercury demonstrated large craters and an area flooded by lava billions of years ago.

European Space Agency has announced yesterday, Saturday, that the European-Japanese BepiColombo spacecraft has sent its first images of Mercury, the nearest planet to the Sun.

In a statement, ESA mentioned that the cameras attached to the BepiColombo spacecraft provided black-and-white images. These images were obtained almost three years after the spacecraft was launched.

ESA explained that the spacecraft arrived on the night side of the planet and conditions were "not ideal" for taking images at its closest approach to the planet, which is at an altitude of 199 kilometers. The closest image came from about 1,000 km away from the planet.

SWING-BY! @BepiColombo/@JAXA_MMO is now at its closest to Mercury, at an altitude of just under 200km! Mercury’s gravity will alter BepiColombo’s trajectory, ready for the next swing-by in June 2022 & arrival at Mercury in 2025! Watch our twitters for the photographs 📷 pic.twitter.com/Q40gWL32dC

— JAXA Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (@ISAS_JAXA_EN) October 1, 2021

The pictured region of Mercury demonstrated large craters and an area flooded by lava billions of years ago.

Elsa Montagnon, Spacecraft Operations Manager for the mission, said that it's "incredible" to finally see the planet.

The space agency mentioned that the BepiColombo mission will study all aspects of Mercury to better understand its origin and evolution.

Hello, Mercury!

This splendid view of part of Mercury's northern hemisphere was captured by @ESA_MTM about 10 mins after #MercuryFlyby close approach, from a distance of 2420km. https://t.co/jjGKrsQXDH#ExploreFarther pic.twitter.com/EMhMJ5tKiN

— Bepi (@ESA_Bepi) October 2, 2021

Mercury's most extreme temperatures range from about 430 degrees Celsius (more than 800 degrees Fahrenheit) to super-frosty nights of minus 180C (minus 290F).

The BepiColombo spacecraft is due to make five more flybys of Mercury.

  • Mercury
  • Outer space

Most Read

Algerian nurse stabbed in Germany

Murder of Algerian nurse in Germany sparks outcry, demands for justice

  • Europe
  • 14 Jul 2025
Credible reports, including some from Israeli media itself, indicate that Tel Aviv had pinned its hopes on what can only be described as a delusional plan. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Jebraily: Iran strikes rewrote regional deterrence rules - Exclusive

  • MENA
  • 15 Jul 2025
Al-Qassam Brigades fighters confront Israeli soldiers in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

3 Israeli soldiers killed amid Gaza battles: Israeli media

  • Palestine
  • 14 Jul 2025
Al Mayadeen: UN Palestine Inquiry members reportedly resigned

Exclusive: UN Palestine Inquiry members reportedly resigned

  • Politics
  • 15 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The US Capitol, Wednesday, July 16, 2025, in Washington (AP)
Politics

Congress set to weaken oversight on foreign US arms sales

Only quarter of Americans say Trump policies helped them: Poll
US & Canada

Only quarter of Americans say Trump policies helped them: Poll

UK charities fund Israeli settlement expansion in occupied West Bank
Palestine

UK charities fund Israeli settlement expansion in occupied West Bank

Calls grow to remove Netanyahu from High School hall of fame
Politics

Calls grow to remove Netanyahu from high school Hall of Fame

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS