Considering that NASA's MESSENGER craft was in the final moments of a high velocity dive into the planet of Mercury, this picture is shockingly serene. It's the final image sent before the craft crashed into the surface—and likely obliterated this serene setting you see here.
We have a little retrospective of the MESSENGER craft if you'd like some more detail on it. Otherwise, just gaze at the last thing Mercury MESSENGER saw before it smashed face-first into the first planet from the sun.
A soundtrack if you need: This Mortal Coil's cover of Tim Buckley's "Song to the Siren."
John Wenz
Writer
John Wenz is a Popular Mechanics writer and space obsessive based in Philadelphia. He tweets @johnwenz.
