Mercury's first color image

Mercury is seen in the first color image of the planet from orbit by NASA's MESSENGER probe, released March 30, 2011. More than six years after it was launched from Earth, NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft began orbiting Mercury on March 17, in the first close rendezvous with the rocky little planet since 1975, providing images never before seen by spacecraft

Mercury's horizon is seen from orbit by NASA's MESSENGER probe, in this image released March 30, 2011

The planet Mercury is seen from orbit by NASA's MESSENGER probe, in this image released March 29, 2011