Evidence of past volcanic activity on Mercury
source: http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/news/2726/evidence-past-volcanic-activity-mercury
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A second fly-by of Mercury in October 2008 by the U.S. space probe MESSENGER has revealed the Solar System's smallest planet to be far more active than previously thought, four studies have found.
Cameras aboard the MESSENGER (MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry and Ranging) probe took more than 1,200 images of the surface, including details of a mammoth well-preserved 692-km impact basin that shows signs of a volcanic past.
The so-called Rembrandt basin is the first such geological feature observed on Mercury where the ground is well exposed and not covered by a thick layer of volcanic ash, like most of the planet's other features.
Cameras aboard the MESSENGER (MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry and Ranging) probe took more than 1,200 images of the surface, including details of a mammoth well-preserved 692-km impact basin that shows signs of a volcanic past.
The so-called Rembrandt basin is the first such geological feature observed on Mercury where the ground is well exposed and not covered by a thick layer of volcanic ash, like most of the planet's other features.
