BepiColombo Makes Up-Close Measurement of Mercury's Solar Bombardment

During its fourth Mercury flyby on September 4, 2024, the BepiColombo probe passed 165 km from the surface and recorded high-energy solar flare particles entering the planet's magnetosphere. SIXS instrument data published in Nature Astronomy may help forecast space weather and protect satellites in Earth orbit.

• September 4, 2024 flyby passed 165 km above Mercury
• SIXS instrument recorded solar flare particle flow in the magnetosphere
• Results published in Nature Astronomy by University of Helsinki group
• In November both mission spacecraft will enter Mercury orbit