| Solar System Scratchpad |
Responsible for much of the smooth terrain on Mercury, the largest constituent of its surface. Evidence for volcanism confirmed during Messengers first two flybys. Evidence for earlier volcanism dating to half the age of the solar system was found during Mercury's third flyby. Now dormant, it once involved sulfurous compounds.
Mercury/Volcanoes Web Pages[]
Mercury/Volcanoes In the News[]
Mercury Surface Characterized (May 2009)[]
- See Mercury/Crust, Mercury/Regolith, Mercury/Volcanoes, Mercury/Smooth Plains, Mercury/Intermediate Terrain, Mercury/Low Reflectance Material, Mercury/Tectonics
Evidence of Younger Volcanic Activity[]
- See Mercury/Volcanoes, Rachmaninoff Basin
- http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/jul/10-170_Messenger_New_Info.html
- http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/20/science/20mercury.html?_r=2&ref=science
- http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/07/mercury-flyby-teaser/
- http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/mercury-has-magnetic-storms-volcano-evidence-100715.html
Sulfur and Potassium Found on Surface (Jun 2011)[]
- See Mercury/Crust, Mercury/Sulfur, Mercury/Volcanoes
- http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/jun/HQ_11-186_MESSENGER_Update.html - Confirms theories, sees surprises