Planeta Mercur s-ar putea micșora mai repede decât se așteptau oamenii de știință. Care este motivul

Scientists from the German Aerospace Center reported that Mercury's shrinkage may be 30% greater than previously thought, losing up to 23 kilometers in diameter. This significant change is attributed to the planet's cooling core. The rough surface, shaped by impact debris, may have concealed the extent of this shrinkage. The findings were published in Geophysical Research Letters, coinciding with the BepiColombo mission's approach to Mercury. This mission aims to provide more accurate measurements of Mercury's size reduction, which has been ongoing since its formation 4.5 billion years ago.