MESSENGER: MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging

A NASA Discovery mission to conduct the first orbital study of the innermost planet

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Where Is MESSENGER?

The computer-generated images below are simulated views. The images were created using the Satellite Tool Kit (STK) software, which was developed by Analytical Graphics, Inc. Click on an image below to be directed to a descriptive caption and a larger, current view of the image.

Beginning with Mercury orbit insertion on March 18, 2011, the design of "Where Is MESSENGER?" was updated to reflect the changing nature of the MESSENGER mission. Just as the spacecraft orbit transitioned from an orbiter of the Sun to an orbiter of Mercury, the focus of this feature's views changed from primarily Sun centered to Mercury centered.

	View from MESSENGER to Mercury This image shows the surface of Mercury as seen from MESSENGER’s current position as well as the MESSENGER spacecraft’s current orbit and orientation. Positions of stars with magnitude 5 or brighter are shown. The depiction of Mercury’s surface includes images acquired by the Mariner 10 and MESSENGER spacecraft. The bright areas near the north and south poles indicate portions of Mercury’s surface without images from either Mariner 10 or MESSENGER.

	View of MESSENGER's Ground Track: 10.5° Field of View The 10.5° field of view shows Mercury’s surface from MESSENGER looking directly beneath the spacecraft to the sub-spacecraft point. This perspective of Mercury reveals what the MESSENGER Wide-Angle Camera (WAC) would see if the WAC were pointed in this direction. The surface shown is from a global base map mosaic created from MESSENGER images. At lower altitudes, this view of the global base map may appear blurry, which indicates that MESSENGER's current position enables WAC images to be acquired at a higher resolution than that of the global base map.

	View of MESSENGER's Ground Track: 1.5° Field of View The 1.5° field of view shows Mercury’s surface from MESSENGER looking directly beneath the spacecraft to the sub-spacecraft point. This perspective of Mercury reveals what the MESSENGER Narrow-Angle Camera (NAC) would see if the NAC were pointed in this direction. The surface shown is from a global base map mosaic created from MESSENGER images. At lower altitudes, this view of the global base map may appear blurry, which indicates that MESSENGER's current position enables NAC images to be acquired at a higher resolution than that of the global base map.

	View from the Earth This image shows MESSENGER's location in its current orbit as seen from the direction of the Earth. Positions of stars with magnitude 5 or brighter are shown. The depiction of Mercury’s surface includes images acquired by the Mariner 10 and MESSENGER spacecraft. The bright areas near the north and south poles indicate portions of Mercury’s surface without images from either Mariner 10 or MESSENGER.

	View from the Sun This image shows MESSENGER's location in its current orbit as seen from the direction of the Sun. Positions of stars with magnitude 5 or brighter are shown. The depiction of Mercury’s surface includes images acquired by the Mariner 10 and MESSENGER spacecraft. The bright areas near the north and south poles indicate portions of Mercury’s surface without images from either Mariner 10 or MESSENGER.

	Full View of Spacecraft Orbit This image shows MESSENGER's location in its current orbit as seen from a viewpoint that provides visibility of 100% of the orbit at all times. Positions of stars with magnitude 5 or brighter are shown. The depiction of Mercury’s surface includes images acquired by the Mariner 10 and MESSENGER spacecraft. The bright areas near the north and south poles indicate portions of Mercury’s surface without images from either Mariner 10 or MESSENGER.

	View from Above Mercury’s North Pole This image shows MESSENGER's location in its current orbit as seen from above Mercury’s north pole. Positions of stars with magnitude 5 or brighter are shown. The depiction of Mercury’s surface includes images acquired by the Mariner 10 and MESSENGER spacecraft. The bright area near the pole indicates portions of Mercury’s surface without images from either Mariner 10 or MESSENGER.

	Planet Positions around the Sun This image shows the orbits and current positions of Mercury, Venus, and Earth. Positions of stars with magnitude 5 or brighter are shown from this perspective that is above the Sun and north of Mercury's orbit.

	View of MESSENGER’s Ground Track This 2-D image shows the orbit ground track and MESSENGER's location above the Mercury surface. The surface map of Mercury, shown in equidistant cylindrical format, includes images from Mariner 10 and MESSENGER. The bright areas near the north and south poles indicate portions of Mercury’s surface without images from either Mariner 10 or MESSENGER.