Orbit insertion animation
On March 17, 2011, MESSENGER became the first spacecraft ever to enter Mercury’s orbit. The probe continued to orbit the planet once every 12 hours for the duration of its four-year mission. Watch this animation to view the Mercury orbit insertion maneuver and the spacecraft’s first orbit around the planet.
Release Date: 2011
Field of view motion of the Visible and Infrared Spectrograph (VIRS) channel of MASCS
This animation illustrates the motion of the field of view of the Visible and Infrared Spectrograph (VIRS) channel of MASCS. Once the spacecraft finishes its slew, it executes an observing program that carries the VIRS field of view across the sunlit surface of Mercury (green). At a selected number of targets, the spacecraft rotates to freeze the field of view long enough for the Ultraviolet and Visible Spectrometer to acquire a complete ultraviolet spectrum (yellow).
Release Date: 9/28/2009
MASCS Targeted Observations
As MESSENGER crosses the terminator, it first briefly slews the instruments’ fields of view above the planet. It next executes a series of targeted observations. Blue flashes show when camera images are taken. Green lines outline the smaller, pinpoint field of view of MASCS.
Release Date: 9/28/2009
Departure Observing Plan for the September 29 flyby
During Flyby 3, MESSENGER will specifically target for detailed spectral analysis by the MASCS instrument. A summary of the scientific significance of these targets is summarized. The above movies illustrate the observing program that the spacecraft and instruments will execute just after closest approach. ‘Flashes’ in the videos indicate the ‘image frames’ from the camera that provides geological context for the MASCS observations.
| TARGET | DESCRIPTION |
| A | An unnamed crater with unusual bright material on its floor. |
| B | An unnamed crater with a set of young ejecta rays that are light blue in the enhanced-color view |
| C | Crater Lermontov. The bright yellowish color in the enhanced-color image and the irregularly shaped depressions on its floor may be evidence of past explosive volcanic activity. |
| D | North of crater Homer. An area with an interesting mix of both light blue ejecta and bright orange materials. |
| E | Near crater Titian. Enhanced-color images show a region of comparatively deep blue material that is dark and of a different composition than the majority of Mercury’s surface. |
| F | Common plains material. This target resembles a type of material that covers much of Mercury |
| G | An unnamed crater with an intriguing bright yellow-orange color in enhanced-color views. |
| H | Ray material from a spectacular rayed crater in Mercury’s north. The ray material appears bright blue in enhanced color. |
| I | Crater Hemingway. Enhanced-color images show the crater has an orange interior and a highly contrasting dark blue central peak. Will be viewed by MASCS very obliquely. |
Astronomy Picture of the Day - 2013 June 12
Explanation: For the first time, the entire surface of planet Mercury has been mapped. Detailed observations of the innermost planet’s surprising crust have been ongoing since the robotic MESSENGER spacecraft first passed Mercury in 2008 and began orbiting in 2011. Previously, much of the Mercury’s surface was unknown as it is too far for Earth-bound telescopes to see clearly, while the Mariner 10 flybys in the 1970s observed only about half.
The above video is a compilation of thousands of images of Mercury rendered in exaggerated colors to better contrast different surface features. Visible on the rotating world are rays emanating from a northern impact that stretch across much of the planet, while about half-way through the video the light colored Caloris Basin rotates into view, a northern ancient impact feature that filled with lava. MESSENGER has now successfully completed its primary and first extended missions. (text courtesy NASA: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap130612.html)