Mercury or Bust!
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We are about to visit Mercury. In just a few days on January 14th, the Messenger spacecraft will make its first encounter with the planet Mercury. It’s been thirty years since we have been to Mercury ala Mariner 10.
Mercury is only a little more than a third the size of the Earth and as you probably know it is the closest planet to the Sun, only about 36 million miles (57.9 million km), compared to our ~ 93 million miles. Imagine what the Sun must look like? As you probably suspect Mercury is quite warm, hot you could say, the daytime temperatures reach around 662oF (350 C) and at night you’d see temperatures drop to – 274oF (-170 C). Days on Mercury are quite long, almost 58 days, not far from a Mercurian year. You might be tempted to believe Mercury is the hottest planet in the solar system, but don’t be, that distinction belongs to Venus by a long shot.
The image above, is one of images Mariner 10 returned. Messenger will be sending us some images too. This is only the first flyby of 2008, the next will be in October. There will be another flyby in September 2009, setting the stage for a final encounter in 2011 when the spacecraft will be placed into Mercury orbit and the real science begins. Mercury is such a “cool” little planet, I can’t wait!!!!
Visit the Messenger website here.
Image Credit: NASA
Mercury looks almost Luna-like, supposedly because those bodies streaking sunward were intercepted by Mercury. The future Messenger images should be great. I can’t wait…but must.
Yes, Venus. Weather forecast for today: 800° and sulfuric/hydrochloric acid rain. Tomorrow: the same.
Such a beautiful planet Venus is! But what a deadly combination of elements. Mercury looks to be so sterile. Jackie
[...] Mercury or Bust! By Tom The image above, is one of images Mariner 10 returned. Messenger will be sending us some images too. This is only the first flyby of 2008, the next will be in October. There will be another flyby in September 2009, setting the stage for … Tom’s Astronomy Blog – http://tomsastroblog.com [...]
Hey, I’m with Jerry Thornton. I thought I was looking at a picture of earth’s moon instead of a photo that Mariner 10 sent back from the planet Mercury. And about that weather forecast on Venus; maybe it will only get up to 799 since it’s winter time! Great job Jerry!
I hadn’t heard of this–thanks for the info!