Spacecraft confirms Mercury is shrinking
Posted: Fri, Jul 4, 2008, 11:15 AM ET (1515 GMT)
Data collected by a NASA spacecraft as it flew past the innermost planet, Mercury, in January has confirmed that the planet is shrinking as it core cools, scientists reported Thursday. In a series of papers published in the journal Nature, scientists said that images of the planet performed by the MESSENGER spacecraft as it flew past the planet in January spotted features called lobate scarps, huge cliffs created in the planet's crust as it contracts. That contraction is caused because the planet's iron core is cooling; that core also drives a magnetic field whose existence was first discovered by the Mariner 10 spacecraft in the mid-1970s but confirmed and better analyzed by MESSENGER. Spacecraft observations also led scientists to conclude that the planet's plains were formed by volcanic activity early in its history, rather than as the result of giant impacts. An analysis of the planet's exosphere turned up evidence that the planet may have a source of water, either hidden in shadowed craters near the poles or from comet and asteroid impacts. MESSENGER will fly past the planet again in October and in 2009 before entering orbit around the planet in 2011.
Data collected by a NASA spacecraft as it flew past the innermost planet, Mercury, in January has confirmed that the planet is shrinking as it core cools, scientists reported Thursday. In a series of papers published in the journal Nature, scientists said that images of the planet performed by the MESSENGER spacecraft as it flew past the planet in January spotted features called lobate scarps, huge cliffs created in the planet's crust as it contracts. That contraction is caused because the planet's iron core is cooling; that core also drives a magnetic field whose existence was first discovered by the Mariner 10 spacecraft in the mid-1970s but confirmed and better analyzed by MESSENGER. Spacecraft observations also led scientists to conclude that the planet's plains were formed by volcanic activity early in its history, rather than as the result of giant impacts. An analysis of the planet's exosphere turned up evidence that the planet may have a source of water, either hidden in shadowed craters near the poles or from comet and asteroid impacts. MESSENGER will fly past the planet again in October and in 2009 before entering orbit around the planet in 2011.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Apex becomes billion-dollar company with $200 million Series D round
Posted: Sun, Sep 14 4:09 AM ET (0809 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, September 18
Russia developing Starlink rival at 'rapid pace,' space chief says
Reuters — 1:56 am ET (0556 GMT) Rocket Lab Looks To Raise $750M In Share Sale
Aviation Week — 1:53 am ET (0553 GMT) Blue Origin hires Christopher Fuller as marketing and comms head
PRWeek — 1:52 am ET (0552 GMT) Weather Causes SpaceX Team to Scrub Wednesday’s Liftoff Attempt From VSFB
Noozhawk — 1:50 am ET (0550 GMT) Update: SpaceX Launch from Vandenberg Rescheduled Due to Weather
Santa Barbara (CA) Edhat — 1:50 am ET (0550 GMT) |
