MESSENGER reveals volcanic activity, magnetic storms at Mercury
Posted: Fri, Jul 16, 2010, 7:02 AM ET (1102 GMT)
Observations by NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft have provided new insights into Mercury's volcanic history and its magnetic storms. PApers published in the journal Science Express summarize data collected by the spacecraft during its third flyby of Mercury last September. Those observations include images of a basin, named Rachmaninoff, with a smooth, sparsely cratered surface, evidence that the basin is relatively young. Scientists said this indicates that the planet's period of volcanic activity may have lasted longer than earlier thought, extending into the second half of the solar system's history. MESSENGER also observed the buildup of energy in substorms in the planet's magnetic tail, with 10 times the increase in energy and at 50 times the speed of similar events in the Earth's magnetic field. MESSENGER, launched in 2004, is scheduled to enter orbit around Mercury next year
Observations by NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft have provided new insights into Mercury's volcanic history and its magnetic storms. PApers published in the journal Science Express summarize data collected by the spacecraft during its third flyby of Mercury last September. Those observations include images of a basin, named Rachmaninoff, with a smooth, sparsely cratered surface, evidence that the basin is relatively young. Scientists said this indicates that the planet's period of volcanic activity may have lasted longer than earlier thought, extending into the second half of the solar system's history. MESSENGER also observed the buildup of energy in substorms in the planet's magnetic tail, with 10 times the increase in energy and at 50 times the speed of similar events in the Earth's magnetic field. MESSENGER, launched in 2004, is scheduled to enter orbit around Mercury next year
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Saturday, September 12
US Space Command Should Always Be Led by a Guardian
Air and Space Forces Magazine — 12:42 am ET (0442 GMT) More hotels and roads? Here's how SpaceX could change the economy in Acadiana.
Acadiana (LA) Advocate — 12:39 am ET (0439 GMT) SpaceX to Get Weighting Boost in Nasdaq 100 After Rebalance
Bloomberg News — 12:38 am ET (0438 GMT) India needs to launch the space act it keeps scrubbing
The Times of India — 12:37 am ET (0437 GMT) Greek Astrophysicist Calls for European Space Autonomy
Greek City Times — 12:35 am ET (0435 GMT) |
