The space probe sent out to explore the planet Mercury has managed to take images of 80% of the planet’s surface and by doing so extending our knowledge of the smallest planet in our solar system. Scientists currently posses 95% images of 95% of the planet’s surface if we count exploration done by other missions.

Scientists working on the Messenger mission reported that on the flyby the shuttle effectuated in October 6th 1, 200 pictures have been taken, revealing 30% of unknown, unexplored territory. Besides reveling Mercury’s landscape, Messenger was also deployed to gather more information on the planet’s magnetic field and the latest finds indicate that the planet’s topography is symmetrical to its magnetic field.

Previous exploration missions of Mercury provided information only regarding its eastern hemisphere. These pictures were taken by Mariner 10, another space probe designed to gather information of the solar system we live in.

Until now, scientists have discovered that Mercury’s surface is heavily cratered and unlike the surface of the Moon, Mercury’s fields seem homogeneously ancient, decorated with volcanoes and giant impact basins. Messenger’s final flyby of Mercury will be in September 2009, until then the shuttle needing to readjust its trajectory. Messenger’s moment of glory will be in March 2011 when the probe is expected to enter Mercury’s atmosphere.

Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system, gaining this status after Pluto was officially declared not to be a planet. Mercury is similar to our Moon in some ways, having no real consistent atmosphere, it’s extremely cratered and impact basins are scattered all around its surface.