Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Geography
Why in News?
A new study published in Geophysical Research Letters suggests that Mercury may have contracted by up to 23 km in diameter, around 30% more than previous estimates.
- Researchers conducted a comparison of the following elements:
- Maps depicting contraction-related faults and associated geological features
- Maps illustrating variations in surface roughness
- The analysis revealed that certain regions characterized by higher surface roughness exhibited fewer observable contraction features.
- The findings could help scientists understand Mercury's long-term thermal and geological evolution.
- Fresh observations from BepiColombo may provide further evidence.
BepiColombo Mission
- BepiColombo is a collaborative mission between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) aimed at exploring Mercury.
- The mission includes two spacecraft.
- Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO), developed by ESA.
- Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (Mio), developed by JAXA.
- The spacecraft will study Mercury’s surface, interior, magnetosphere, magnetic field, and geological evolution.
- BepiColombo’s laser instrument is expected to provide data to help determine the extent of Mercury’s contraction as its interior cools.
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Earlier Mercury Missions
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Mariner 10
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NASA
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First spacecraft to visit Mercury; 1970s
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MESSENGER
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NASA
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Studied Mercury extensively; 2010s
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BepiColombo
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ESA + JAXA
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Detailed investigation of Mercury; ongoing
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Mercury
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- Mercury is the smallest planet in the Solar System.
- It is the closest planet to the Sun.
- Mercury possesses a disproportionately large iron core relative to its overall size.
- The planet has been undergoing gradual contraction as its interior cools.
- Mercury's surface is heavily affected by impact cratering.
- This contraction produces geological features such as faults and scarps.
- Mercury does not have any natural satellites.
- Despite being a small rocky planet, Mercury possesses a global magnetic field.
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Reference
India Today | Mercury’s Contraction
