http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/space_time/mercury/ Planet Mercury News. Read science articles and see images of Mercury. en-us Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:05:01 EST Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:05:01 EST 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/2009/11/091108215449.htm A NASA spacecraft gliding over the battered surface of Mercury for the second time this year has revealed more previously unseen real estate on the innermost planet. The probe also has produced several science firsts and is returning hundreds of new photos and measurements of the planet's surface, atmosphere and magnetic field. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091108215449.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090927140838.htm NASA's Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry, and Ranging spacecraft known as MESSENGER will fly by Mercury for the third and final time on Sept. 29. The spacecraft will pass less than 142 miles above the planet's rocky surface for a final gravity assist that will enable it to enter Mercury's orbit in 2011. Determining the composition of Mercury's surface is a major goal of the orbital phase of the mission. The spacecraft already has imaged more than 90 percent of the planet's surface. The spacecraft's team will activate instruments during this flyby to view specific features to uncover more information about the planet. Mon, 28 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090927140838.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090602112255.htm Mercury is scorching hot, with daytime temperatures of more than 800 degrees Fahrenheit. Its hard for the planet to hold on to its atmosphere, which is extremely thin, and invisible to the human eye. However, it can be seen by special instruments attached to telescopes and spacecraft like MESSENGER. Tue, 02 Jun 2009 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090602112255.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090430144539.htm NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft served up another curveball after a second flyby of the hot inner planet Oct. 6 detected magnesium -- an element created inside exploding stars and which is found in many medicine cabinets on Earth -- clumped in the tenuous atmosphere of the planet. Sun, 03 May 2009 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090430144539.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090430144705.htm A previously unknown, large impact basin has been discovered by the MESSENGER spacecraft during its second flyby of Mercury in October 2008. The impact basin, now named Rembrandt, more than 700 kilometers (430 miles) in diameter. If the Rembrandt basin had formed on the east coast of the United States, it would span the distance between Washington, D.C., and Boston. Sat, 02 May 2009 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090430144705.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090430144701.htm Using high-resolution and multispectral images, researchers have started the difficult process of determining the composition of Mercury's crust and chronicling its origin and evolution. Fri, 01 May 2009 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090430144701.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081030091153.htm A NASA spacecraft gliding over the battered surface of Mercury for the second time this year has revealed more previously unseen real estate on the innermost planet. The probe also has produced several science firsts and is returning hundreds of new photos and measurements of the planet's surface, atmosphere and magnetic field. Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081030091153.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081007192813.htm NASA's MESSENGER space probe has made its second swing past Mercury, just 125 miles (200 kilometers) above the cratered surface of our solar system's innermost planet, snapping hundreds of pictures and collecting a variety of other data. Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081007192813.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080930144216.htm NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft, which is toting an $8.7 million University of Colorado at Boulder instrument to measure Mercury's wispy atmosphere and blistering surface, will make its second flyby of the mysterious, rocky planet Oct. 6. Thu, 02 Oct 2008 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080930144216.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080923084541.htm A new model suggests that the origin of the Pantheon Fossae on the planet Mercury, a radiating web of troughs located in the giant Caloris Basin, is directly linked to an impact crater at the centre of the web. The Caloris Basin is the youngest-known large impact basin on Mercury. Mon, 29 Sep 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080923084541.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080703140654.htm Planetary geologists have determined that volcanism played a central role in forming Mercury's surface. The evidence of volcanic activity, published in Science, lends important insights into Mercury's geologic history. Sun, 06 Jul 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080703140654.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080703140703.htm Multispectral data on the composition of rock untis of the surface of Mercury show a widespread role for volcanism and an apparent deficiency in iron in the rocks' minerals. Sat, 05 Jul 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080703140703.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080703150644.htm Scientists have argued about the origins of Mercury's smooth plains and the source of its magnetic field for more than 30 years. Now, analyses of data from the January 2008 flyby of the planet by the Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry and Ranging (MESSENGER) spacecraft have shown that volcanoes were involved in plains formation and suggest that its magnetic field is actively produced in the planet's core. Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080703150644.htm 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