APOD: 2022 August 9 - Leaving Earth

Good morning, Rallypoint, and welcome to the August 9th edition of Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD): "Leaving Earth." Originally published in 2013, this video clip was created from imagery captured by NASA’s MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) spacecraft as it swung past Earth in 2005 on its way to the planet Mercury. It reminded me of the Pale Blue Dot clip that Sgt (Join to see) posted last week.

MESSENGER was launched on August 3, 2004, and began orbiting Mercury on March 17, 2011. Although it completed its primary science objectives by March 2012, the spacecraft’s mission was extended two times, allowing it to capture images and information about the planet in unprecedented detail. The mission ended with a controlled impact onto the planet's surface on April 30, 2015.