First Close-Up Image of Mercury Captured

A close-up image of Mercury, the smallest planet in our Solar System, has been captured by a European-Japanese space probe during its seven-year mission. The image was taken on October 1, from a distance of 2418 kilometers during the probe's first flyby of the planet, according to the European Space Agency.

As reported by 3dnews.ru, the BepiColombo probe is collecting scientific data and images to be sent back to Earth. The black and white photo reveals part of Mercury's northern hemisphere, including the Sihtuu plain and the Calvino and Lermontov craters. Agency specialists hope to gather more information about Mercury in the near future.