Neil
01-Dec-2012, 09:50 AM
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20553879
Scientists have finally shown what has been postulated for decades: the planet Mercury holds billions of tonnes of water ice at its north pole.
A report in Science shows evidence from the Messenger spacecraft that craters in constant shadow host water.
A futher pair of Science papers shows that much of the ice is beneath an insulating layer of dark material rich in organic and "volatile" molecules.
The findings may help explain how these ingredients first arrived on Earth.
So loads of ice exists in the shade of craters. Logic would suggest some heat would permiate to melt some of this ice. So there must be some liquid water on Mercury!
Scientists have finally shown what has been postulated for decades: the planet Mercury holds billions of tonnes of water ice at its north pole.
A report in Science shows evidence from the Messenger spacecraft that craters in constant shadow host water.
A futher pair of Science papers shows that much of the ice is beneath an insulating layer of dark material rich in organic and "volatile" molecules.
The findings may help explain how these ingredients first arrived on Earth.
So loads of ice exists in the shade of craters. Logic would suggest some heat would permiate to melt some of this ice. So there must be some liquid water on Mercury!