BepiColombo Detects X-Ray Auroras Triggered by Electron Rain on Mercury

High-energy x-ray auroras brought on by electron rain have been detected on Mercury by the BepiColombo joint ESA/JAXA mission.

“For the first time, we have witnessed how electrons are accelerated in Mercury’s magnetosphere and precipitated onto the planet’s surface."

Sae Aizawa, Lead Author

The mission, which has been enroute to the Solar System’s innermos…