Mercury & the Moon Mercury & the Moon. Mercury and the Moon: What can we learn? What do we know?...

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Mercury & the Moon Mercury & the Moon

Transcript of Mercury & the Moon Mercury & the Moon. Mercury and the Moon: What can we learn? What do we know?...

Mercury & the MoonMercury & the Moon

Mercury and the Moon: Mercury and the Moon: What can we learn?What can we learn?

What do we know?What do we know?

Why is it important?Why is it important?

Mercury and the Moon: Mercury and the Moon: What can we learn?What can we learn?

What do we know?What do we know?

Why is it important?Why is it important?

MercuryMercury

MercuryMercury

Mercury’s Impact HistoryMercury’s Impact History

Huge impact craters as well as thousands of smaller ones…

Mercury’s Impact HistoryMercury’s Impact History

Very Similar features on our Moon

Mercury

Moon

Mercury’s plainsMercury’s plains

Very Similar features on our Moon

Mercury’s plainsMercury’s plainsHistory told by craters!

Tectonics on MercuryTectonics on Mercury

Long cliffs indicate that Mercury shrank early in its history.

Mercury’s coreMercury’s core

Mercury’s core: A HypothesisMercury’s core: A Hypothesis

Mercury’s core: A HypothesisMercury’s core: A Hypothesis

Mercury’s core: A HypothesisMercury’s core: A Hypothesis

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/messenger/main/index.html

News from MercuryNews from Mercury

NASA’s Messenger Mission now mapping Mercury’s Surface

Latest Photos of MercuryLatest Photos of Mercury

Latest Photos of MercuryLatest Photos of Mercury

Ice! Ice!

ICE?$$%##ICE?$$%##

I thought Mercury was

> 700 °F degrees in the

sunlight??

Where the sun doesn’t shine…Where the sun doesn’t shine…

A great example of the process A great example of the process of science…of science…

Radio Telescope

Observations in 1990’s

A great example of the process A great example of the process of science…of science…

Radar reflects from bright spots

But is it ice??

Latest Photos of MercuryLatest Photos of Mercury

Why Explore Mercury?Why Explore Mercury?

Learning about Earth from other planets…Learning about Earth from other planets…CoreCoreMagnetic FieldMagnetic FieldRole of Solar Energy ExposureRole of Solar Energy ExposurePlanetary ModelsPlanetary Models

NASA’s viewNASA’s view

Our MoonOur Moon

Some volcanic activity 3 billion years ago must Some volcanic activity 3 billion years ago must have flooded lunar craters, creating have flooded lunar craters, creating lunar marialunar maria..

The Moon is now geologically dead.The Moon is now geologically dead.

The Origin of the Moon: An The Origin of the Moon: An Example of the Process of ScienceExample of the Process of Science

Where did the Where did the moon come moon come from?from?

How do we How do we know?know?

How do we explain the How do we explain the existence of our Moon?existence of our Moon?

•Terrestrial planets don’t have moons….

•Our Moon is VERY large compared to its “partner”

•Composition is both like Earth…

•Rocky materials, similar to Earth’s Crust

•…and NOT like Earth:

•No water, no atmosphere, not a large metal core

How do we explain the How do we explain the existence of our Moon?existence of our Moon?

•FOUR (4) Theories

• Formed at the same time, alongside Earth

• Formed from Earth’s materials

• Captured as it passed by

• Result of Giant Impact

How do we explain the How do we explain the existence of our Moon?existence of our Moon?

•Formed at the same time, alongside Earth

•The “Sister” Theory…

•But then

•Should have the same composition…

•Should have water & “volatiles”

•Should have similar density

•It doesn’t, so rule this one out…

How do we explain the How do we explain the existence of our Moon?existence of our Moon?

•Formed from Earth’s materials

•As earth formed, it “spun out”

•“Fission Theory”

•But then…. again

•Should have water & “volatiles”

•Should have similar density

•It doesn’t, so rule this one out…

How do we explain the How do we explain the existence of our Moon?existence of our Moon?

•Captured as it passed by

•“Capture Theory”

•But then….

•How can this be done?

•It is very unlikely, so rule this one out…

Captured MoonsCaptured Moons

• The unusual moons of some planets The unusual moons of some planets may be captured planetesimals.may be captured planetesimals.

How do we explain the How do we explain the existence of our Moon?existence of our Moon?

•Result of Giant Impact

•Mars-sized impactor strikes Earth a glancing blow

• Impactor destroyed, creates a debris ring

•Gravity takes over….the Moon is born.

•Lacks “volatiles” and water & Iron

•Computer models show this to be possible!

Giant ImpactGiant Impact

Giant impact stripped matter from Earth’s crustGiant impact stripped matter from Earth’s crust

Stripped matter began to orbitStripped matter began to orbit

Then accreted into MoonThen accreted into Moon

Our MoonOur Moon

Should we go back? Should we go back?

What can we still learn?What can we still learn?

NASA Laser Communication System Sets Record with Data Transmissions to and from Moon (10/22/13)NASA Laser Communication System Sets Record with Data Transmissions to and from Moon (10/22/13)

Lunar Reconnaisance Orbiter Views (2Lunar Reconnaisance Orbiter Views (2

LCROSS Satellite wins Technology Award (2011)LCROSS Satellite wins Technology Award (2011)

LRO image of LRO image of Peak in Crater TychoPeak in Crater Tycho

LRO image of LRO image of Soviet Luna LanderSoviet Luna Lander

LRO image of LRO image of Moon’s North PoleMoon’s North Pole

LCROSSLCROSS

LCROSS find water LCROSS find water on the Moonon the Moon

LCROSS find water LCROSS find water on the Moonon the Moon