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chetesoft.bsky.social
@chetesoft.bsky.social
37 followers 82 following 1 posts
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Reposted
astrojonny.bsky.social
Mercury is perhaps the Solar System’s dullest planet, but maybe also its most fascinating – because we can’t work out how it formed.

My latest story for the BBC delves into the confusing origin of Mercury, and what it means to work out its formation.

Enjoy!

www.bbc.com/future/artic...
Mercury: The planet that shouldn't exist
Mercury has long baffled astronomers because it defies much of what we know about planet formation. A new space mission arriving in 2026 might solve the mystery.
www.bbc.com
December 28, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Reposted
josefaschbacher.esa.int
22.1 billion euros subscribed.
A record.
A first.
And a clear message that Europe is serious about space and that @esa.int is the agency it trusts to deliver.

A historic Ministerial. A united Europe. A stronger ESA.
www.esa.int/About_Us/Cor...
ESA Member States commit to largest contributions at Ministerial
The largest contributions in the history of the European Space Agency, €22.1 bn, have been approved at its Council meeting at Ministerial level in Bremen, ...
www.esa.int
November 27, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Reposted
operations.esa.int
Flyby success! Solar Orbiter swept past Venus last night, using the planet's gravity to adjust its orbit and grant it a new view of the Sun's polar regions. Everything went as planned 🕹️🛰️✅
operations.esa.int ESA Operations @operations.esa.int · Feb 18
ESA mission control will guide the ESA/NASA Solar Orbiter through a close encounter with Venus tonight. The gravity assist manouevre will 'tilt' the spacecraft's orbit around the Sun and grant it a unique view of our star's enigmatic polar regions. 🕵️‍♀️ ☀️ www.esa.int/Enabling_Sup...
Solar Orbiter ready for close encounter with Venus
The European Space Agency (ESA) is ready to guide the ESA/NASA Solar Orbiter spacecraft through its closest encounter with Venus so far.Today’s flyby will be the first to significantly ‘tilt’ the spac...
www.esa.int
February 19, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Reposted
esa.int
📽️ Relax and enjoy #BepiColombo’s views as it flew gracefully around Mercury on 7-8 January 2025.

🎼Playing in the background is 'The Hebrides Overture' by Felix Mendelssohn - can you guess why? 🔭
Timelapse of BepiColombo's sixth Mercury flyby
YouTube video by European Space Agency, ESA
www.youtube.com
January 14, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Reposted
cmundell.esa.int
On Wednesday 15 January, 2025, the @esa.int #ESA_Gaia will cease science operations. This remarkable mission transformed astrophysics, galactic & Solar System science. Read more from Prof Michael Perryman essays: www.michaelperryman.co.uk/gaia-science...
Gaia: science essays - table | My Site
www.michaelperryman.co.uk
January 13, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Reposted
esa.int
🆕 Our XMM-Newton spacecraft has detected an unprecedented X-ray signal coming from the very edge of a supermassive #blackhole. This defies how we thought matter falls into black holes, and points to a potential source of gravitational waves for ESA’s future #LISA mission 🔭
XMM-Newton catches giant black hole’s X-ray oscillations
The European Space Agency's XMM-Newton has detected rapidly fluctuating X-rays coming from the very edge of a supermassive black hole in the heart of a nearby galaxy. The results paint a fascinating p...
www.esa.int
January 13, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Reposted
esa.int
More on this on Wednesday!
emily.space Emily Hunt @emily.space · Jan 12
The @esa.int Gaia satellite will take its final scientific measurements on Wednesday. 🔭

This will conclude a 12 year series of continuous observations.

Larger Gaia data releases are still in progress, but Gaia has already had a HUGE impact on our understanding of the #milkyway.

(Image: ESA)
An artist's impression of the Gaia spacecraft.
January 13, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Reposted
esa.int
Towards the end of last year, the main components for #VA263, the second flight of Europe’s new #Ariane6 rocket, arrived at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, and are now being assembled.

www.esa.int/Enabling_Sup...
Hybrid sailing ship Canopée docking at Pariacabo harbour in French Guiana with main and upper stage of Ariane 6 flight VA262, 28 November 2024, transporting the main and upper stage for the second flight model of Ariane 6. Unloading upper stage of Ariane 6 flight VA263 at the launcher assembly building at Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana, 29 November 2024.
January 12, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Reposted
esa.int
😮 WOW! Check out these images from the ESA/JAXA #BepiColombo spacecraft's sixth and final Mercury flyby before entering orbit around the planet in late 2026!
www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
Image taken by BepiColombo during its sixth Mercury flyby. Planet Mercury is visible in the background with its grey, cratered, pock-marked surface. In the foreground are some spacecraft parts. Image taken by BepiColombo during its sixth Mercury flyby. Planet Mercury is visible in the background with its grey, cratered, pock-marked surface. In the foreground are some spacecraft parts.
January 9, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Reposted
esa.int
Hello @bsky.app, here's to looking into more #bluesky and beyond... 😉
Image of the Moon, on a background of the blackness of space, and foreground at right of Earth's atmosphere in shades of blue, taken by ESA astronaut André Kuipers from the ISS in 2012.
January 9, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Reposted
ukspaceagency.bsky.social
Check out these new images from the European/Japanese #BepiColombo mission on its final Mercury flyby. 👇

The spacecraft, with UK-built instruments, will increase our understanding of Mercury's composition, structure, and atmosphere. 🌕

Learn more 👉 gov.uk/government/c...

📷 ESA/BepiColombo/MTM
Part of spacecraft with Mercury close in background. Part of spacecraft with Mercury close in background. Part of spacecraft with Mercury in background.
January 9, 2025 at 10:46 AM