Comments on: A View of Mercury's Far Side

By: alan

alan — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 19:28:43 +0000

Mercury was captured in a 3:2 resonance, it rotates 3 times for every two orbits. This resonance is stable due to the eccentricity of its orbit, e=0.2.

By: Agaram

Agaram — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 12:43:20 +0000

I want to know from the wise guys, the reason why it is not tidally locked to the Sun, ?

By: Darnell Clayton

Darnell Clayton — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 01:54:20 +0000

[quote]No acid rock on Mercury,dude. Its all heavy metal.

Look at the pictures and think 'molten solder'. Its more like splat rather than impact, eh.[end quote]

To Raving: Really? That would be interesting. if that's the case, then perhaps Mercury should be explored for minerals and resources instead of the asteroid belt.

By: Richard cook Jr.

Richard cook Jr. — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 20:54:45 +0000

Gld I found this sight. Booked to favorites .

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 20:07:35 +0000

Isn't the reference to Mercury's "Far Side" in the headline a misnomer — or at least an anarchonism? We've known that Mercury is not tidally locked to the Sun for quite a while.

By: Raving

Raving — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 18:30:38 +0000

Owlhoot Says:

"I have been looking at the crater and surface images and am wondering if the sharply defined and deep crater rims indicate a lack of surface dust on Mercury."

No acid rock on Mercury,dude. Its all heavy metal.

Look at the pictures and think 'molten solder'. Its more like splat rather than impact, eh.

By: Owlhoot

Owlhoot — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 18:02:23 +0000

I have been looking at the crater and surface images and am wondering if the sharply defined and deep crater rims indicate a lack of surface dust on Mercury. Is it possible that the extreme temperatures Mercury is subjected to in addition to the more powerful and hot solar wind are keeping dust at bay, or perhaps even fused to the surface?