Just a quick note to y'all, since I'm in the middle of about eight things all demanding my full attention: the MESSENGER spacecraft will enter orbit around Mercury tonight at 9:00 p.m. EDT, after a tortuous 7-year journey. Once safely circling the planet, engineers will be focusing on making sure the probe is safe and sound, so it'll be a while (days) before we start getting images. I'm quite sure my pal Emily Lakdawalla will be poised for attack on every tidbit of news that comes in, so follow her on Twitter and on her blog at the Planetary Society.
Related posts: - MESSENGER's family portrait - MESSENGER's third tryst with Mercury - Mercury hides a monster impact - MESSENGER contacts the Borg queen
