Mercury Shrinking More Than Previously Thought, New Study Suggests
Summary
A new study suggests Mercury may have shrunk more than scientists previously believed, with impacts and debris likely hiding many surface scars. The findings could help explain the planet’s interior, core and geological history as fresh data arrive from the BepiColombo mission.
Key Points
- A study in Geophysical Research Letters says Mercury may have shrunk 10% to 30% more than earlier estimates, with a radius change of about 11.6 kilometers.
- Researchers say impacts and debris may have buried many of Mercury’s shrinkage scars, making the planet’s true contraction harder to measure.
- The BepiColombo mission, now arriving at Mercury, is expected to provide the first comprehensive global topographic measurements of the planet.
- Better shrinkage estimates could reveal more about Mercury’s core, interior layers, tectonic history and magnetic field generation.
