join-tab.png
close-x.png

Help Shape the Future of Space Exploration

Join The Planetary Society Now  arrow.png

enews-tab.png
close-x.png

Join our eNewsletter for updates & action alerts

    Please leave this field empty
Blogs

Blog Archive

 

Mercury's Weird Terrain

Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2011/04/19 11:21 CDT

When Mariner 10 flew past Mercury, it caught an immense impact basin lying half in and half out of sunlight, which they named Caloris. Even with only half the basin visible, scientists knew it was one of the largest in the solar system. Geologists had to wait more than 25 years to see the rest of Caloris, and when they did it turned out to be even bigger than they had thought. But the fact that Caloris was only half in sunlight was fortuitous in one sense, because it meant that the spot on Mercury that was exactly opposite the area of the Caloris impact was also partially in sunlight. That spot looks weird.

Read More »

Facebook Twitter Email RSS AddThis

Support our Asteroid Hunters

They are Watching the Skies for You!

Our researchers, worldwide, do absolutely critical work.

Asteroid 2012DA14 was a close one.
It missed us. But there are more out there.

I want to help

Fly to an Asteroid!

Send your name and message on Hayabusa-2.

Send your name

Join the New Millennium Committee

Let’s invent the future together!

Become a Member

Connect With Us

Facebook! Twitter! Google+ and more…
Continue the conversation with our online community!

facebook.png twitter.png rss.png youtube.png flickr.png googleplus.png