From just 295 kilometers above Mercury’s surface, ESA’s BepiColombo transfer probe has captured stunning close-up images while on its final flyby of the tiny, sunbaked world. The photos represent a planet in the grip of extremes, revealing detailed views of permanent darkness bordered by crater rims blasted by endless daylight. Within those shadows, it’s thought, sits a layer of ice, preserving clues that could help us better understand Mercury’