Cross-Instrument Comparison of Mertis and Mascs Observations over Tolstoj Basin from Bepicolombo's 5th Mercury Flyby

Kurzfassung

The MErcury Radiometer and Thermal Infrared Spectrometer (MERTIS) on board BepiColombo acquired the first Mercury surface measurements on December 1, 2024, during the 5th Mercury swing-by (MSB#5)[1]. The instrument’s TIS channel successfully observed the planet in the 7-14 μm spectral range at a spatial resolution of ~28 km/pixel. The data offers an unprecedented opportunity to cross-validate findings with the Mercury Atmospheric and Surface Composition Spectrometer (MASCS) VIRS channel from NASA’s MESSENGER mission, which operated in the visible to near-infrared range (300-1450 nm). This study focuses on the Tolstoj Basin and its surrounding Goya Formation, leveraging laboratory spectral data to connect the two instruments. This work can lead to a boost in both instrument’s scientific results, thanks to their complementary nature.