A NASA probe has begun beaming back stunning new images from its successful second flyby of Mercury, the planet closest to the sun. NASA's MESSENGER probe captured never-before-seen views of the Mercury during its encounter on Monday. picked by AutumnLotus 1 year ago

Craters come in all shapes and sizes, some more bizarre than others. Recent photos of Mercury have revealed two new categories of crater that scientists are puzzling over how to explain. When NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft flew by the planet Jan. 14 it snapped pictures of several craters with strange dark halos and one crater with a spectacularly shiny bottom. picked by AutumnLotus 2 years ago

A whole new side of Mercury has been revealed in pictures taken by NASA's MESSENGER probe, which flew by the tiny planet two weeks ago in the first mission to Mercury in more than three decades. The photos, released today, include one of a feature the scientists informally call "the spider," which appears to be an impact crater surrounded by more than 50 cracks in the surface radiating f... read full post picked by AutumnLotus 2 years ago

The solar system's smallest planet has been shrinking at an unexpected rate, researchers announced on Thursday.

When NASA's Mariner 10 probe flew by Mercury in 1974 and 1975, it returned images of strange cliffs called 'scarps' that cut across all sorts of geological formations. That suggested that the planet's surface has contracted over time. picked by AutumnLotus 1 year ago

The first spacecraft to visit Mercury in more than three decades will get its first close-up look at its target on Monday, when it flies within 200 kilometers of the planet's Sun-baked surface.
Pictures, movies, and other goodies are here. picked by 2manyusernames 2 years ago

New scientific evidence suggests that deep inside the planet Mercury, iron “snow” forms and falls toward the center of the planet, much like snowflakes form in Earth’s atmosphere and fall to the ground. The movement of this iron snow could be responsible for Mercury’s mysterious magnetic field. picked by AutumnLotus 2 years ago

The planet Mercury's magnetic field appears to be strong enough to fend off the harsh solar wind from most of its surface, according to data gathered in part by a University of Michigan instrument onboard NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft. picked by AutumnLotus 2 years ago

Scientists are sifting through their first new views of the planet Mercury in more than three decades thanks to images beamed home by NASA's MESSENGER probe. The car-sized spacecraft zipped past Mercury in a Monday flyby and is relaying more than 1,200 new images and other data back to eager scientists on Earth. picked by AutumnLotus 2 years ago

Researchers have learned that rhinovirus, long believed to cause the common cold, actually alters genes in the body and it's the modified DNA that creates cold symptoms. Now that they know what actually happens, that brings them one step closer to a cure. picked by Wingnut 1 year ago

"Dark Tourism" was coined to describe trips to places associated with disaster and depravity. And whether you care to admit it or not, you're a dark tourist. picked by teaya21 3 years ago