Europe to launch 1st dedicated mission to `mysterious` Mercury in 2015

Washington: Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun, has somewhat baffled astronomers since long.

In the past, because of its proximity to the Sun, it has been difficult for Earth-based telescopes to observe Mercury against the ferocious solar light.

In 2015, to increase our understanding of this mysterious planet, Europe is launching BepiColombo, the first dedicated mission to Mercury.

It will reach its destination in 2022.

Its observations of Mercury should also offer new insights into the workings of extra-solar planets in other solar systems.

These planets, which like Mercury are formed in very close proximity to their parent star the sun, are a hot topic in planetary science and astronomy at the moment.

ANI