A clean, well-lighted place - Mercury
Abstract
An overview is presented of the topography of Mercury as recorded by telescopic observations and recent data obtained by the Mariner 10 spacecraft. It has been determined that the planet possesses a magnetic field, indicating that its deep interior may still be very much alive. The variety of topographic features include a surface pockmarked with impact craters, a planetwide system of huge cliffs (scarps) hundreds of kilometers in length, and the giant 800 mile wide Caloris basin. It is noted that the immensely thin Mercury atmosphere contains traces of sodium, potassium, oxygen, helium and hydrogen.
- Publication:
-
Planetary Report
- Pub Date:
- October 1991
- Bibcode:
- 1991PlR....11d...8C
- Keywords:
-
- Mariner 10 Space Probe;
- Mercury Surface;
- Planetary Magnetic Fields;
- Telescopes;
- Helium;
- Hydrogen;
- Mercury (Planet);
- Mercury Atmosphere;
- Oxygen;
- Potassium;
- Sodium;
- Topography;
- Trace Contaminants;
- Lunar and Planetary Exploration