Nasa: Messenger Spacecraft Reveals Stunning New Views Of Mercury

[frogesque]

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/0810...cury-flyby.html

Spacecraft Reveals Stunning New Views of Mercury

By Jeremy Hsu

Staff Writer

posted: 7 October 2008

ET

A NASA probe has begun beaming back stunning new images from its successful second flyby of Mercury, the planet closest to the sun.

NASA's MESSENGER probe captured never-before-seen views of the Mercury during its encounter on Monday. The spacecraft zipped past Mercury for the second time this year and used the planet's gravity to adjust its path as it continues en route to become the first probe to orbit the planet in March 2011.

More + pics from link.