First color image of Mercury from orbit.

Following its successful entry into orbit about Mercury, MESSENGER has been sending back images since Tuesday, providing a glimpse of portions of Mercury’s surface not previously seen by spacecraft.  This first image was taken at 5:20 am EDT by the Mercury Dual Imaging System as the spacecraft sailed high above Mercury’s south pole, and provides a glimpse of portions of Mercury's surface not previously seen by spacecraft. Over the subsequent six hours, MESSENGER acquired an additional 363 images before downlinking some of the data to Earth.  Continuous global mapping of Mercury will begin on April 4.

According to DTM Director and MESSENGER Principal Investigator Sean Solomon, “the entire MESSENGER team is thrilled that spacecraft and instrument checkout has been proceeding according to plan.”

To view additional images, please visit the MESSENGER website or the Los Angeles Times Ticket pic of the week.