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
|
|
Sunday, May 31
Space Command leaving, Space Force expanding significantly in Colorado
KOAA-TV Colorado Springs — 2:16 am ET (0616 GMT) Secretary of the Air Force announces $250 million planned investment in El Paso County
Colorado Springs Gazette — 2:14 am ET (0614 GMT) The SpaceX IPO is great for Elon Musk and terrible for you
The Verge — 2:07 am ET (0607 GMT) After Blue Origin rocket explosion, NASA's entire moon exploration program depends on SpaceX for now as Musk eyes blockbuster IPO soon
Fortune — 2:07 am ET (0607 GMT) SpaceX Vow To Loft 1 Million AI Satellites Could Spark Doomsday Dive
Forbes.com — 2:05 am ET (0605 GMT) |
