University of Arizona | Lunar and Planetary Laboratory | 2018 Apr 27
Michael Sori, a planetary scientist at the University of Arizona, used careful mathematical calculations to determine the density of Mercury’s crust, which is thinner than anyone thought.
Mercury is small, fast and close to the sun, making the rocky world challenging to visit. Only one probe has ever orbited the planet and collected enough data to tell scientists about the chemistry and landscape of Mercury's surface. Learning about what is beneath the surface, however, requires careful estimation.The USGS released this topographic map of Mercury in 2016. The highest
elevations are colored red, and the lowest elevations are colored dark blue.
After the probe's mission ended in 2015, planetary scientists estimated Mercury's crust was roughly 22 miles thick. One University of Arizona scientist disagrees.
Using the most recent mathematical formulas, Michael Sori estimates that the Mercurial crust is just 16 miles thick and is denser than aluminum.
Sori determined the density of Mercury’s crust using data collected by MESSENGER. He created his estimate using a formula developed by Isamu Matsuyama and Douglas Hemingway.
Sori's estimate supports the theory that Mercury's crust formed largely through volcanic activity. Understanding how the crust was formed may allow scientists to understand the formation of the entire oddly structured planet.
A Thin, Dense Crust for Mercury - Michael M. Sori
- Earth and Planetary Science Letters 489:92 (01 May 2018) DOI: 10.1016/j.epsl.2018.02.033