Here are two pics of the BepiColombo flyby tonight. BepiColombo was launched in 2018 to explore Mercury. It's path requires a gravitational assist from Earth (and two from Venus and a few from Mercury itself) to arrive in Mercury orbit.

Its closest approach to Earth occurred when it was in Earth's shadow. I picked it up right after it emerged from the shadow at 10:34 pm. This was shortly after closest approach. The second image was taken at 11:16pm. Both were 20 second exposures (with a Canon 6D on a Nexstar 8). Note the streak in the second image is significantly shorter. That's because BepiColombo was significantly father away. The difference was very obvious in only 40 minutes.

Tags:   Tucson Arizona United States of America BepiColombo

© All Rights Reserved

Here are two pics of the BepiColombo flyby tonight. BepiColombo was launched in 2018 to explore Mercury. It's path requires a gravitational assist from Earth (and two from Venus and a few from Mercury itself) to arrive in Mercury orbit.

Its closest approach to Earth occurred when it was in Earth's shadow. I picked it up right after it emerged from the shadow at 10:34 pm. This was shortly after closest approach. The second image was taken at 11:16pm. Both were 20 second exposures (with a Canon 6D on a Nexstar 8). Note the streak in the second image is significantly shorter. That's because BepiColombo was significantly father away. The difference was very obvious in only 40 minutes.

Tags:   Tucson Arizona United States of America BepiColombo

© All Rights Reserved

Composite of images taken with a Canon 80D and Sigma 100-400mm lens. Taken from Tucson Arizona starting at 10:34pm MST on April 9.

Tags:   Bepicolombo

© All Rights Reserved