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Mercury May Have Molten Hot Magma at its Core

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the but-no-ragnaros dept.

mattatwork writes "According to ScienceDaily, NASA has come to the conclusion that the planet Mercury may have a molten core after all, based on high-precision planetary radar readings. You may (or may not) remember the Mariner 10 probe making 3 passes by Mercury between March 29th, 1974, September 21st 1974 and March 16, 1975."

2 of 120 comments (clear)

  1. liquid core but little magnetism by wizardforce · · Score: 5, Insightful

    it is quite odd that mercury has a liquid metal core but a very weak magnetic field- planetary magnetic fields form when currents flow through a liquid core- the rotating core sustains the field as on earth, the sun and jupiter but mercury's is very weak- apparently it isn't rotating much

    --
    Sigs are too short to say anything truly profound so read the above post instead.
  2. Re:Good news for us I guess... by MollyB · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I do not know much about this, but is it possible Mercury would always have a molten core just do the extremes it endures (gravity, ...[snipped] I had the same thought regarding gravity. Since Mercury's orbit is not circular, isn't it subject to the same type of tidal forces that induces Jupiter's satellite Io's molten core? Is there a planetary poohbah among us who might enlighten we curious but lazy 'dotters? Thank you in advance.