Mercury shrinking faster than expected
A recent study has revealed that Mercury, the smallest planet in the Solar System and the closest to the Sun, is shrinking at a faster rate than previously believed, with its diameter decreasing by up to 23 kilometers, which accounts for approximately 30%. This contraction is attributed to the cooling of its large iron core during the planet's formation 4.5 billion years ago, leading to a reduction in the mantle and outer crust, and resulting in a network of faults and fractures. The "BepiColombo" mission, equipped with precise measuring instruments and scheduled to enter Mercury's orbit next November, will be used to verify the extent of this shrinkage more accurately. Its findings are expected to enhance our understanding of the evolution of small celestial bodies undergoing similar contraction processes.
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