Mercury May Have Shrunk More Than Scientists Thought
Mercury may have contracted 10% to 30% more than scientists previously estimated because billions of years of asteroid impacts have obscured some of the geological evidence of its shrinking. A study published Sept. 10 in Geophysical Research Letters found that Mercury’s roughest regions contain fewer visible structures associated with contraction, suggesting that impact debris may […]
A recent study published in Geophysical Research Letters has suggested that Mercury may have contracted more than previously estimated, potentially by up to 23 kilometers (14.5 miles) since the planet's formation. The research, led by Gaku Nishiyama of the German Aerospace Center, found that impact debris from billions of years of asteroid impacts could have obscured some of the geological evidence of Mercury's shrinking, such as lobate scarps, high-relief ridges, and wrinkle ridges.
This new estimate could help scientists better understand the planet's interior, thermal history, and core composition.
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