lecture 14

Question 1

mercury orbit

Answer 1

most extreme orbital eccentricity and inclination

Question 2

mercury spin state (orbital resonance)

Answer 2

mercury rotates 3 times on its axis for every two
orbits around the sun

Question 3

effects of unique orbit and spin

Answer 3

double sunsets and sunrises

“hot poles” where the sun shines for a longer period

Question 4

average surface temperature

Answer 4

incoming: S_0 * (1 AU/ d)^2
outgoing: 4piR^2 *sigma T^4

Question 5

ice on mercury

Answer 5

some deep craters near poles never see sunlight

Question 6

missions to mercury

Answer 6

Mariner10, MESSENGER, BepiColombo

Question 7

mercury surface

Answer 7

similar to lunar highlands
caloris basin

Question 8

mercury geology

Answer 8

ancient volcanic flows

Question 9

tectonic forces (not plate tectonics)

Answer 9

lobate scarps

Question 10

shrinking of mercury

Answer 10

via cooling and solidification

Question 11

mercury core

Answer 11

mercury has a high “intrinsic” density, suggesting a very large iron metallic core

mercury also has a magnetic field, caused by a partially liquid metallic core