A peer-reviewed study from the German Aerospace Center reports that Mercury has lost up to 14 miles of diameter over its lifetime, roughly 30 percent more contraction than scientists previously measured. Researchers led by Gaku Nishiyama, a planetary scientist affiliated with Hokkaido University in Japan, compared maps of geologic faults and contraction features against surface […] The post Mercury is shrinking faster than anyone realized, new study finds appeared first on American Almanac .
A peer-reviewed study from the German Aerospace Center reports that Mercury has lost up to 14 miles of diameter over its lifetime, roughly 30 percent more contraction than scientists previously measured. Researchers led by Gaku Nishiyama, a planetary scientist affiliated with Hokkaido University in Japan, compared maps of geologic faults and contraction features against surface roughness data built from NASA's Messenger spacecraft imagery . What they found was straightforward: the roughest patches of Mercury's battered surface showed far fewer of the wrinkle-like ridges that signal planetary shrinkage. The reason, the team concluded, is that billions of years of asteroid and comet impacts buried those ridges under debris, hiding the true…Open
ABC News' Maggie Rulli reports from Iceland, where she experienced the cosmic wonder as Europe basked in the glow of its first total solar eclipse in decades.
AI:Maggie Rulli reports from Iceland during a rare celestial event as Europe experiences its first total solar eclipse in decades, capturing the awe-inspiring visuals and wondrous moments as the moon passes in front of the sun during the path of totality.Open
The Earth should enjoy total solar eclipses while it can. In the distant future, the Moon will move far enough from our planet so that it no longer covers the sun completely during the events, astrophysicist Avi Loeb tells “Elizabeth Vargas Reports.” #Space #Eclipse Anchor Elizabeth Vargas delivers the biggest stories, without bias or opinion. Watch "Elizabeth Vargas Reports" every weeknight at 7p/6C on NewsNation. #VargasReports NewsNation is your source for fact-based, unbiased news for all Americans.
AI:Astrophysicist Avi Loeb explains that total solar eclipses are a finite phenomenon, as the Moon is gradually drifting away from Earth. This celestial movement means that in the distant future, the Moon will no longer be positioned to completely obscure the sun, eventually preventing the occurrence of total solar eclipses for observers on our planet.Open
People gathered across the continent to watch the total solar eclipse on Wednesday.
AI:Millions of people across Europe gathered throughout Wednesday to witness the rare celestial event of a total solar eclipse. The phenomenon drew massive crowds to various locations across the continent as citizens turned out to observe the moon passing in front of the sun, creating a spectacle that has been heavily documented through photography and video.Open
A total solar eclipse will cross parts of Europe, while U.S. military communities in Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain will see much of the sun obscured.
