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Bruce Murray Space Image Library

Map of Mercury after MESSENGER’s third flyby

Map of Mercury after MESSENGER’s third flyby
Map of Mercury after MESSENGER’s third flyby Following MESSENGER's final Mercury flyby before entering orbit, the map coverage of Mercury is nearly complete. Mariner 10 mapped about 45% of the planet (green outline). MESSENGER covered another 20% on its first flyby (blue outline). The second flyby nailed 25% more (red outline). The most recent flyby filled in another 5%, including the last missing piece of the equator and mid-latitudes. Now only 5% of the planet remains unmapped, most of it poleward of 60° north and south latitude. NASA / JHUAPL / CIW