Mercury space probe

A space probe went past Mercury with cameras on Monday January 14, 2008 for the first time in over 33 years. At 2:04:39 p.m. the space probe flew 124 feet over the planet. Researchers hope that this $446 million mission will answer questions about Mercury's oddly high density, magnetic field and thin atmosphere. It may also help us figure out how the planets formed during the solar systems beginning. We have only seen about 45% of mercury but the space probe should be sending over 1,200 new images of mercury. Other data soon will help us find new information. "They are imaging, basically, the largest single unexplored piece of real estate in the inner solar system," Alan Stern, associate administrator for NASA's science mission directorate, told reporters today. This probe is so much better than past probes and could be a huge part in finding out more information about mercury.

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/080114-messenger-flyby-wrap.html