Mercury and the MESSENGER MissionBrian Jackson - PtyS 206, Spring 2008Where is Mercury?0.5 AU1 AU•1 Mercury Year = 88 Earth Days•1 Mercury Day = 59 Earth DaysSunrise on MercuryMercuryMoon2400 km1700 kmNote: Figures roughly to scale.Mercury is about 2 times larger than the moon by volume but 5 times larger by mass!MercurianQuestions: What is Mercury’s internal structure?3000 km ~ 50% Earth’s radiusMercury is very dense. Why?1800 km ~ 75% Mercury’s radiusMercurianQuestions: Is there ice at Mercury’s poles?Ice at the north pole of Mercury?Radar Observation at north pole of MercuryMercurianQuestions: What is Mercury’s geologic history?Caloris Basin – a giant crater1600 kmMercurianQuestions: What is Mercury’s geologic history?100 kmCompression ridgesMESSENGER• Launched 2004 Aug 3• First fly-by of Mercury on 2008 Jan 14• Three fly-bys then into orbit around Mercury in 2011 Mar 18• Mission scheduled till 2012For more information•
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