Why Does Mercury Have So Many Craters? A Deep Dive Into the Planet’s Origins
Mercury's cratered surface tells a story of ancient chaos: a collision reshaped it, while unyielding asteroid strikes etched its scars. Without an atmosphere to shield it, the planet's history is written in its rugged terrain and volcanic plains.
NASA’s Messenger Mission to Mercury [Infographic]
In the 1970s, Mariner 10 photographed less than half of Mercury's surface. MESSENGER's mission is to enter orbit around the planet, complete the detailed mapping of Mercury and return data about magnetic fields and particles in the planet's vicinity.
Monthly Stargazing Calendar for February 2013
This month will be the best time to see Mercury. Usually the planet is very hard to observe because it orbits very close to the sun and it can only be seen at dawn and dusk. However on the evening of February 8, Mercury will be seen within less than 0.4 degrees of the much-fainter planet, Mars.