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

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

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

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

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 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

The Saturn probe Cassini has snapped a new set of haunting photographs of the ringed gas giant as it circles the planet from some 846,000 miles out. picked by AutumnLotus 7 months 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

As spacecraft began to launch on journeys to more distant planets, never to return, their mission controllers often commanded them to take departing views of Earth and the Moon. Mariner 10 and Voyager 1 both took such snapshots, as did Mars Odyssey, Venus Express, and many others. picked by AutumnLotus 2 years ago

It may look like an intriguing star constellation far away in space, but these lights are actually far closer to home. These images shows cities at night as viewed by the International Space Station. picked by AutumnLotus 1 year 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

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

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

The US space agency's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) spacecraft has returned its first images since reaching the Moon on 23 June.

The probe's two cameras returned images of a region in the lunar highlands south of Mare Nubium (Sea of Clouds). picked by AutumnLotus 5 months ago

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

Stunning images were obtained by ESO staff at Paranal, of the green and blue flashes, as well as of the so-called 'Gegenschein'. The Earth's atmosphere is a gigantic prism that disperses sunlight. In the most ideal atmospheric conditions, such as those found regularly above Cerro Paranal, this will lead to the appearance of so-called green and blue flashes at sunset. 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

In his enchanting new book, Kingfisher: Tales From The Halcyon River, photographer Charlie Hamilton James tells in words and amazing pictures the story of a year in the life of two pairs as they court, mate, rear chicks and catch prey. picked by AutumnLotus 6 months ago