Mercury Flashcards
What is mercurys orbit like?
Very eccentric and close to the sun
When can you see mercury in the sky
just before sunrise/sunset because of its closeness to the su
What did mercurys eccentric orbit begin to prove?
Einsteins general theory of relativity
What is the most metal rich planet?
Mercury - particularly dense
What do tidal effects look like for mercury?
:2 resonant rotation. Specific SPOT (caloris basin) is always pointing either toward or away from the sun
What is the caloris basin/impact on mercury
The spot of a large impact that created mercury tidal lock
What caused mercurys weird chaotic terrain
Boiling out of volatile elements- have been stripped away long ago by the suns proximity
What happened to mercury as it cooled?
Shrank (scarps created)
Does mercury have a magnetic feild?
Yes but a small one
