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Mercury contraction exceeds previous scientific estimates
A new study published in ‘Geophysical Research Letters’ reveals that Mercury has contracted significantly more than previously estimated. Researchers, led by Gaku Nishiyama from the German Aerospace Center, suggest the planet's diameter may have decreased by up to 23 kilometers (approximately 14 miles) since its formation 4.5 billion years ago. This represents a contraction rate 10% to 30% higher than earlier scientific models suggested.
The study indicates that the planet's surface is marked by ‘shortening structures’ such as ridges and cliffs, some reaching 1.6 kilometers in height. Scientists believe that billions of years of asteroid and comet impacts created craters and debris that obscured these geological signs, leading to previous underestimations. By analyzing surface roughness and mapping tectonic features, the team was able to account for these hidden areas.
This increased rate of shrinkage provides critical insights into Mercury's internal composition. It suggests the planet may possess a larger metallic core, a higher initial temperature, or fewer light elements like silicon and sulfur. The findings are expected to be further investigated by the joint European-Japanese BepiColombo mission, which is currently en route to the planet and is expected to provide more detailed topographical and gravitational data.
Entities
BepiColombo · Gaku Nishiyama · Geophysical Research Letters · German Aerospace Center · Mercury · NASA
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The change in Mercury's radius could be approximately 11.6 kilometers. n1info.hr · www.oslobodjenje.ba
- [● 2 SOURCES] Previous studies estimated the shrinkage to be between 1 and 7 kilometers. n1info.hr · www.oslobodjenje.ba
- [● 3 SOURCES] Asteroid and comet impacts may have obscured the traces of the planet's shrinkage. n1info.rs · n1info.hr · www.oslobodjenje.ba
- [● 2 SOURCES] Mercury may have shrunk 10 to 30 percent more than previously estimated. n1info.hr · www.oslobodjenje.ba
- [● 2 SOURCES] Mercury is the second densest planet in the solar system. n1info.hr · www.oslobodjenje.ba
- [● 2 SOURCES] The study utilized data from NASA's MESSENGER mission. n1info.hr · www.oslobodjenje.ba