Articles tagged with Planet Mercury
SwRI's Strofio, a neutral mass spectrometer, will sample Mercury's sparse exosphere to measure surface particles. This will provide a global understanding of Mercury's surface composition and space environment, answering scientific questions about its origin story.
A new study reveals that Mercury's surface is 10-30% smaller than previously thought, with impact debris covering the signs of contraction. Researchers used combined maps of geologic evidence and surface roughness to estimate the planet's contraction, finding a total change of up to 14.5 miles in its diameter.
Carbon did not migrate into the core, resulting in a graphite crust; silicon and sulphur are responsible for the core's low density. The graphite crust is approximately 40-120 meters thick and is composed of 1-3% carbon.
Researchers use a meteorite resembling Mercury's chemical makeup to recreate the planet's conditions, finding that sulfur lowers the temperature at which magma begins to crystallize. This process reveals how Mercury's low iron content and high sulfur levels shape its interior evolution and crust formation.
A recent study suggests that a near-collision between two protoplanets of similar masses could have formed Mercury, contradicting the widely accepted theory. The researchers used smoothed particle hydrodynamics to simulate this event and found that it can reproduce Mercury's composition with high precision.
A recent paper by SwRI-led researchers summarizes the scientific community's notable progress in advancing the understanding of the formation and evolution of the inner rocky planets. The study focuses on late accretion's role in controlling the long-term evolution of these planets, with implications for their habitability.
The ESA Hera mission is set to launch in just under a month, with representatives discussing the mission's expectations and current status. The BepiColombo Mission to Mercury is also being updated following its successful flyby, with insights into previous flybys and plans for the remainder of the mission.
Astronomers have discovered a small, cold exoplanet with an orbital period of 146 days, providing insight into planetary formation and evolution. The planet, HD88986b, is about twice the size of Earth and orbits a star similar to the Sun.
The BepiColombo mission has successfully observed how electrons raining down on Mercury's surface can trigger high-energy auroras. The observations confirm that the mechanism generating aurorae is the same throughout the Solar System.
Ancient Mayans used an 819-day calendar that covered a much larger timeframe than previously thought. By increasing the calendar length to 20 cycles of 819 days, researchers found a pattern emerges in which the synodic periods of all visible planets align with station points in the larger calendar.
Astronomers found that a planet like GJ 1252b, orbiting an M dwarf star, would likely lose its atmosphere due to intense heat and radiation. The discovery narrows the search for habitable planets around these stars, but leaves room for possibilities further away from the star.
Researchers discovered Mercury has geomagnetic storms triggered by a ring current, similar to those on Earth. The findings were made possible by the Messenger space probe's data and a solar coronal mass ejection.
Researchers analyzed images of Mercury's surface and found only 14 boulders, compared to the Moon's 30 times more frequent presence. Factors such as micrometeorite bombardment, thicker regolith, and extreme temperature fluctuations contribute to the rarity of boulders on Mercury.
Researchers detected a new chemical signature, hydroxyl radical (OH), on the dayside of WASP-33b, an ultra-hot Jupiter. The discovery provides insight into the chemistry of exoplanet atmospheres and could help search for 'Earth-like' planets.
Researchers propose that Mercury's surface chemistry lab, fueled by solar winds and hot temperatures, can produce ice over a period of 3 million years. This process could account for up to 10% of Mercury's total ice reserves.
The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has discovered three new exoplanets, including one rocky planet in the habitable zone, which could potentially support liquid water and life. The newly found planets, TOI-270, are unique in that they occupy a 'missing link' between rocky Earth-like planets and gas-dominant mini-Neptunes.
Researchers found evidence of a solid inner core in Mercury, approximately 1,260 miles wide and making up half the planet's core. This discovery helps scientists better understand Mercury's interior and offers clues about how rocky planets change over time.
Scientists from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center discovered a large, solid iron core in Mercury's center, approximately 1,260 miles wide. This finding sheds light on the planet's interior structure and its cooling rate, potentially helping predict Earth's magnetic field changes.
A new study published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters estimates Mercury's crust to be 16 miles thick and denser than aluminum. This finding supports the theory that Mercury's crust formed largely through volcanic activity, shedding light on the planet's formation.
Researchers found that plasmoid reconnection in Mercury's magnetotail could accelerate energetic electrons, solving a puzzle left by previous space missions. The study also revealed that turbulence enhances reconnection, leading to improved predictions for future missions like Bepi-Colombo.
Astronomers have detected an Earth-sized planet with a density similar to Mercury's, located 260 million light years away. K2-229b orbits a medium-sized active star and reaches temperatures of over 2000°C.
Researchers have shed new light on the TRAPPIST-1 planetary system, revealing that all seven planets are mostly made of rock and contain up to 5% water. The study also found that five planets lack a hydrogen-dominated atmosphere, similar to Neptune or Uranus.
Researchers have found that small collisions between comets and Mercury's surface create a lopsided bombardment of tiny dust particles, influencing the planet's very thin atmosphere called an exosphere. The study suggests that specific types of comets, such as Jupiter-family and Halley-type, contribute to this phenomenon.
A new study led by Brown University researchers found evidence for large surface ice deposits on Mercury's north pole and smaller-scale deposits scattered around the pole. The research adds significantly to Mercury's ice inventory, potentially doubling it.
Researchers develop new scale to measure civilization advancement, emphasizing the importance of sustainable planet management. Earth may reach Class V in future if humanity adopts renewable energy sources.
A new classification scheme for planetary stages based on non-equilibrium thermodynamics categorizes worlds by energy flow and life's effect. This framework, proposed by researchers, places Earth in Class IV due to its thick biosphere and strong impact from human activities.
A new study has classified nearly 3,500 confirmed exoplanets into two distinct size groups: rocky Earth-like planets and larger mini-Neptunes. The researchers used data from NASA's Kepler mission and the W.M. Keck Observatory to make this discovery.
The newly discovered planet KELT-9b has a unique orbit, atmospheric features, and a daytime temperature hotter than most stars. Its surface reaches 7,800 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, just 2,000 degrees cooler than the Sun.
Two exoplanets, WASP-67 b and HAT-P-38 b, have distinct atmospheric compositions, with one being cloudier than the other. The team's findings suggest that their past formation histories may be responsible for these differences.
A newly discovered valley on Mercury is about 250 miles wide and 600 miles long, with steep sides that dip as much as 2 miles below the surrounding terrain. The valley likely formed due to rapid cooling of Mercury's interior, which would challenge previous assumptions about the planet's geologic past.
A study by Rice University researchers proposes that the origin of Earth's volatile elements, including carbon, can be explained by a massive collision between Earth and an embryonic planet similar to Mercury. This collision may have led to the exclusion of carbon from Earth's core and its incorporation into the silicate mantle.
New research from North Carolina State University reveals that Mercury's crust-forming volcanism stopped around 3.5 billion years ago, likely due to the planet's small mantle size and rapid cooling. This finding provides insight into Mercury's geological evolution and challenges previous theories about planetary formation.
Researchers discovered that Mercury's surface was formed by melting at high pressures near the core-mantle boundary. The study suggests that the unique sulfur content and pressure-temperature conditions explain the heterogeneous surface composition.
Researchers analyze the Kepler-223 star system, finding a unique orbital configuration similar to that of Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus. The study suggests that the four planets may have migrated through a disk, getting stuck and maintaining their current orbits, which differs from the formation process of Earth's inner planets.
Three NASA satellites will observe Mercury's transit, offering a rare opportunity to study planetary motion and the sun's effects. The event will also be used to calibrate space instruments and test spacecraft.
A team of scientists led by Patrick Peplowski used MESSENGER mission data to confirm a high abundance of carbon at Mercury's surface. The carbon most likely originated deep below the surface, in an ancient graphite-rich crust that was later brought to the surface through impact processes.
A new study found that Mercury is being pelted by ancient comet dust, impacting its tenuous atmosphere and surface boundary exosphere. The researchers discovered a cometary dust stream from Comet Encke that explains the timing of calcium emission peaks in the planet's exosphere.
Scientists have discovered a magnetization signal emanating from an ancient region of Mercury's crust, indicating the presence of a dynamo-driven magnetic field 3.8 billion years ago. This finding suggests that Mercury's core dynamo has persisted for billions of years.
Scientists have discovered that Mercury's magnetic field is almost 4 billion years old, providing a new understanding of the planet's history. The discovery was made possible by data from NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft, which orbited Mercury between 2011 and 2015.
Researchers propose that comet dust, rich in carbon, has painted Mercury black over billions of years. The team's experiments show that tiny carbon particles can darken surfaces to less than 5% reflectivity, similar to Mercury's dark surface.
The study explains why our solar system has a gap between Mercury and the outer planets. Jupiter's inward migration destroyed any newly-formed super-Earths, leaving behind rocky inner planets like Earth with thinner atmospheres.
Scientists have created global-scale maps of Mercury's surface chemistry, revealing previously unrecognized geochemical terranes with distinct compositions. The presence of these terranes has important implications for the planet's history and evolution.
An international team of astronomers has discovered a Sun-like star with orbiting Earth-sized planets dating back to the dawn of the Galaxy. The discovery, Kepler-444, hosts five small planets smaller than Mercury and Venus.
Researchers created a model showing how Mercury's core dynamics contribute to its unusual magnetic field, which is three times stronger in the north than south. This finding indicates that planets have multiple ways of generating a magnetic field.
A study suggests that Planet Mercury's unusual metal-rich composition is a result of early hit-and-run collisions with larger planets. This process could have stripped away Mercury's mantle without intense shock, leaving behind a mostly-iron body.
Two planets in the Kepler-56 system will meet their fate when they are dragged into the star's expanding orbit. The inner planets will be destroyed due to tidal forces and intense heat from the growing star.
A new analysis of Mercury's surface suggests that the planet experienced extended periods of volcanic explosions in its history. The study, led by researchers at Brown University, used MESSENGER data to determine that the eruptions did not occur all at once but rather over an appreciable period of Mercury's history.
Scientists used MESSENGER spacecraft images and topographic data to build a comprehensive map of tectonic features on Mercury's surface. The findings indicate the planet has contracted between 4.6 and 7 kilometers in radius over its lifetime.
Researchers have discovered that Mercury has contracted by as much as 4.4 miles due to cooling, exceeding previous estimates of ½ to 2 miles. This finding is consistent with thermal models and resolves a decades-old paradox in understanding the planet's history.
Scientists have concluded that the oldest visible terrains on Mercury date back to 4 billion to 4.1 billion years ago, with volcanic activity resurfacing the planet's surface during this time period. The findings suggest a global resurfacing event due to volcanism and may indicate that large projectiles enhanced the observed resurfacing.
Researchers at MIT analyzed MESSENGER data to identify two distinct rock compositions on Mercury's surface, suggesting a massive lava flow and subsequent magma ocean. The team recreated the rock types in the lab and simulated geological processes to support their hypothesis.
Astronomers used Kepler spacecraft data to discover a planet smaller than Mercury, about the size of Earth's moon, in the Cygnus-Lyra region of the Milky Way. The planet, Kepler-37b, is likely a rocky world with no atmosphere or water.
A team of astronomers analyzed Kepler mission data and found that 17% of sun-like stars have planets one to two times the diameter of Earth, orbiting close to their host stars. These planets may be rocky and habitable within the Goldilocks zone.
Using thermal models, scientists pinpointed the extremely cold regions where ice has been found on or below the surface. The dark deposits are thought to be a thin crust of residual organic material brought by asteroids and comets.
Scientists have found that Mercury's core is larger than anticipated, occupying 85% of the planet's radius. The planet's topography shows smaller elevation ranges compared to Mars or the Moon, with evidence of large-scale changes since its geological history.
Researchers have discovered two planets that survived being engulfed by their parent star, shedding new light on stellar and planetary systems. The discovery may also offer insights into the possible future of our own solar system.
The MESSENGER spacecraft has shown that Mercury's surface material composition differs significantly from other terrestrial planets, with higher abundances of sulfur and potassium. The planet's surface also features a unique magnetic field and extensive volcanic plains covering over 6% of its surface.
The MESSENGER mission has provided unprecedented data on Mercury's magnetic field, revealing a host of firsts, including evidence of widespread flood volcanism and direct measurements of its surface composition. The study sheds light on the planet's global magnetic field geometry and its interaction with solar wind.
CU-Boulder's Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics designed an $8.7 million instrument onboard MESSENGER, which will help solve mysteries about Mercury's hot surface and atmosphere. The mission aims to better understand planetary systems and formation, with dozens of students involved in analyzing data.
At the AAAS annual meeting, NASA researchers presented several key findings, including a new tool to manage protected areas using remote-sensing data from satellites and aircraft. Scientists also discussed the impact of regional nuclear war on global climate and presented discoveries in zero-gravity environments. Additionally, research...