The first picture taken by the American probe Messenger after its orbiting Mercury was received. The Wide Angle Camera (WAC) shows a region of the southern hemisphere centered on the Debussy Crater. This impact, surrounded by brilliant rays, measures 80 km in diameter. The resolution of the snapshot is of the order of 2.7 km per pixel.
Messenger, which placed itself in polar orbit on March 17, 2011, sent another 363 images to the Earth. But its scientific mission will not start until April 4, 2011. In the meantime, the probe will be tested and send other shots, notably thanks to its high-resolution camera.
Launched on August 3, 2004, the probe flew over the planet closest to the Sun three times: January 14, 2008, October 6, 2008 and September 29, 2009. These successive passes allowed it to gradually modify its trajectory in order to position itself In orbit around Mercury using a minimum of fuel. The real mission begins now. Scientists expect more than 75,000 images and various measures.
