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

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

The planet Mercury we were led to believe in, a cold, dark and dead place, is the furthest thing from the truth. NASA's Messenger orbiter is sending thrilling details of a vibrantly active globe filled with magnetic tornadoes, gigantic volcanoes and something called a plasma funnel that I cannot wait to find out more about. picked by equinox 7 months 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

Using a NASA radar flying aboard India's Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft, scientists are getting their first look inside the moon's coldest, darkest craters, where some suspect ice may be hiding. picked by AutumnLotus 11 months 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

There have been raging debates over the years as to whether there is frozen water on the moon or not. Soon two NASA spacecraft, a lunar spycraft and a kamikaze probe, will help answer the question by peering into the permanent darkness of craters at the moon's south pole. picked by AutumnLotus 6 months 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

Recent laboratory tests found so much mercury in tuna sushi. picked by willster09 2 years ago

Minnesota apparently is the first state in the nation to ban intentionally added mercury in cosmetics, giving it a tougher standard than the federal government.

Go Minnesoooota. picked by muppet 2 years ago

MESSENGER's two flybys of Mercury in 2008 have greatly increased the portion of the planet's surface that has been imaged by spacecraft, from approximately 45% coverage obtained by Mariner 10 to about 90% coverage following the second flyby.

This significant increase in imaging coverage is enabling global studies of Mercury's surface for the first time. picked by AutumnLotus 7 months ago

This strange almost perfect 'ice circle' has appeared on a frozen lake in Siberia.

While scientists have ruled out UFO involvement, they are puzzled as to how the mysterious, 2.5mile-wide geological phenomenon has formed in Lake Baikal. picked by AutumnLotus 6 months 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

Imagine staring into the sky and seeing a tiny yellow dot, gradually getting closer. That dot doubles in size every second, until it slowly darkens the sky. You realize that this dot is actually the size of New York City and is screeching through the atmosphere faster than the speed of sound, coming right for you. picked by Bornbad 1 year ago

The toxic substance was found in every fish sampled, a finding that underscores how widespread mercury pollution has become. picked by Bornbad 3 months ago

Mercury accumulates as it moves up the food chain from bacteria to fish to people. Not a threat, though. picked by misswinkle 2 years ago

Christ almighty!! What a bunch of idiots we let run the show...
Who would have thought Mercury was bad for you?
Corky: Me! Me! Dear God, MEEE!! picked by fugazi 2 years ago

Using a fancy version of a common chef's trick, scientists have discovered that Mercury's core may be partially molten, making it a little more Earth-like than once thought. picked by AutumnLotus 3 years ago

One theory, presented at Europlanet's latest Planetary Science Congress by Joop Houtkooper from the University of Giessen, suggests that conditions in some lunar craters may be perfect for preserving samples of life from Earth and maybe even Mars. picked by AutumnLotus 1 year ago