http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/space_time/mercury/ Planet Mercury News. Read science articles and see images of Mercury. en-us Fri, 16 May 2008 16:05:01 EDT Fri, 16 May 2008 16:05:01 EDT 60 http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/logosmall.gif http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/space_time/mercury/ For more science articles, visit ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080507110712.htm New scientific evidence suggests that deep inside the planet Mercury, iron "snow" forms and falls toward the center of the planet, much like snowflakes form in Earth's atmosphere and fall to the ground. The movement of this iron snow could be responsible for Mercury's mysterious magnetic field. Thu, 08 May 2008 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080507110712.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080317123246.htm Patterns of scalloped-edged cliffs or lobate scarps on Mercury's surface are thrust faults that are consistent with the planet shrinking and cooling with time. However, compression occurred in the planet's early history and Mariner 10 images revealed decades ago that lobate scarps are among the youngest features on Mercury. Why don't we find more evidence of older compressive features? A new simulation reveals a possible cause of Mercury's distinctive features. Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080317123246.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080201093149.htm The recent flyby of Mercury by NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft has given scientists an entirely new look at a planet once thought to have characteristics similar to those of Earth's moon. Researchers are amazed by the wealth of images and data that show a unique world with a diversity of geological processes and a very different magnetosphere from the one discovered and sampled more than 30 years ago. Sat, 02 Feb 2008 08:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080201093149.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080130140130.htm The planet Mercury's magnetic field appears to be strong enough to fend off the harsh solar wind from most of its surface, according to new data from NASA's Messenger spacecraft. Thu, 31 Jan 2008 05:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080130140130.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080123085313.htm One week ago, NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft transmitted to Earth the first high-resolution image of Mercury by a spacecraft in over 30 years, since the three Mercury flybys of Mariner 10 in 1974 and 1975. Sat, 26 Jan 2008 08:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080123085313.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080119164714.htm When the MESSENGER spacecraft passed above the surface of Mercury, it snapped the first pictures of a side of Mercury not previously seen by a spacecraft. A new image shows that previously unseen side, with a view looking toward Mercury's south pole. Mon, 21 Jan 2008 08:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080119164714.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080118101918.htm The European Space Agency signaled the start of a busy period for the planet Mercury, when it signed the contract for industrial development to start for the BepiColombo mission Jan. 18, 2008. BepiColombo, a mission to make the most comprehensive study of Mercury ever, is due for launch in August 2013. Sun, 20 Jan 2008 08:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080118101918.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080116174044.htm As MESSENGER approached Mercury the spacecraft's Narrow-Angle Camera on the Mercury Dual Imaging System instrument captured a view of the planet's rugged, cratered landscape illuminated obliquely by the Sun. Thu, 17 Jan 2008 11:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080116174044.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080115091406.htm At 2:04 p.m. EST on Jan. 14, 2008, the MESSENGER spacecraft skimmed 200 kilometers (124 miles) above the surface of Mercury in the first of three flybys of the planet. Initial indications from the radio signals indicate the spacecraft is still operating nominally. The first science data return from the flyby was received just minutes before the closest approach point with the planet, as planned. Tue, 15 Jan 2008 11:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080115091406.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080110144809.htm NASA will point a power-packed space instrument at some of the last unexplored terrain in the inner solar system when the MESSENGER spacecraft whips within 125 miles of Mercury's surface Jan. 14 at a mind-boggling 141,000 miles per hour. Fri, 11 Jan 2008 20:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080110144809.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/06/070604155748.htm Researchers will scan Venus during a spacecraft flyby this week using an $8.7 million instrument they designed and built for NASA's MESSENGER Mission, launched in 2004 and speeding toward Mercury. Tue, 05 Jun 2007 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/06/070604155748.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070503160126.htm Researchers working with high-precision planetary radars have discovered strong evidence that the planet Mercury has a molten core. The finding explains a more than three-decade old planetary mystery that began with the flight of the Mariner 10 spacecraft. The research appears in the journal Science. Thu, 03 May 2007 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070503160126.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/03/070319175938.htm BepiColombo, ESA's mission to explore planet Mercury, has been definitively "adopted" by the Agency's Science Program Committee. The mission will now start its industrial implementation phase, to prepare for launch in August 2013. Wed, 21 Mar 2007 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/03/070319175938.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/08/050819092848.htm NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft, headed toward the first study of Mercury from orbit, has swung by Earth for a gravity assist that propelled it deeper into the inner solar system. Thu, 25 Aug 2005 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/08/050819092848.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/08/040804084247.htm NASA's MESSENGER – set to become the first spacecraft to orbit the planet Mercury – launched August 3 at 2:15:56 a.m. EDT aboard a Boeing Delta II rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. Wed, 04 Aug 2004 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/08/040804084247.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/07/040726085915.htm NASA’s first trip to Mercury in 30 years – and the closest look ever at the innermost planet – starts in August with the predawn launch of the MESSENGER spacecraft from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. Mon, 26 Jul 2004 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/07/040726085915.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/04/020401075041.htm The first mission to orbit the planet Mercury took a big step toward its scheduled March 2004 launch when NASA's MESSENGER project received approval to start building its spacecraft and scientific instruments. Mon, 01 Apr 2002 00:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/04/020401075041.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/06/010611073051.htm NASA has given the first Mercury orbiter mission approval to move into full-scale spacecraft development ­ setting up the first trip to the sun’s closest neighbor in more than a generation. Fri, 15 Jun 2001 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/06/010611073051.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2000/06/000602075218.htm Ever since Galileo first used a telescope in 1609, astronomers have tried to capture images of the surface of Mercury with a ground-based telescope. Now, a team of astronomers from Boston University released images revealing details of Mercury's surface in the May issue of The Astronomical Journal and at the American Geophysical Union in Washington, DC. Mon, 05 Jun 2000 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2000/06/000602075218.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1999/07/990708114444.htm The proposed MESSENGER mission to Mercury, managed by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, has been selected by NASA for launch in 2004. MESSENGER will be the first spacecraft to visit Mercury in more than three decades. Fri, 09 Jul 1999 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1999/07/990708114444.htm