GoKawiilNew study says Mercury has shrunk 30% more than earlier estimates
Researchers analyzing data from NASA's Messenger spacecraft now estimate Mercury has contracted up to 14 miles in diameter as its interior cooled over billions of years, roughly 30% more shrinkage than previously calculated. The findings, published in Geophysical Research Letters, suggest the planet's cratered, debris-strewn surface had obscured the true scale of this shrinkage.
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Mercury's contraction offers a rare window into how small rocky planets cool and evolve internally over geologic time, which helps scientists understand planetary formation more broadly. The upcoming BepiColombo mission, now approaching Mercury with a laser altimeter aboard, could verify or even increase these shrinkage estimates once it enters orbit in November.
- Mercury may have shrunk about 14 miles in diameter, 30% more than earlier estimates suggested.
- The planet's rugged, impact-scarred surface likely masked the true extent of its contraction.
- BepiColombo, arriving in November, will use laser measurements to test these new findings.
Celestron NexStar 130SLT Telescope — Mercury is notoriously tricky to spot low in the twilight, and a computerized GoTo scope like the NexStar 130SLT can slew right to it for you. Its 130mm reflector gathers plenty of light for planetary viewing, so you can follow the innermost planet yourself while BepiColombo closes in for a much better look.
See Celestron NexStar 130SLT Telescope on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: science.slashdot.org, 2026-09-12
Published there as: “Little Mercury May Be Shrinking Faster Than Scientists Expected”
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