Mercury's Messenger

Autor/in	Chapman, Clark R.
Titel	Mercury's Messenger
Quelle	In: Science Scope, 27 (2004) 6, S.40-43 (4 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0887-2376
Schlagwörter	Astronomy; Science Education; Space Sciences; Space Exploration + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Astronomie; Naturwissenschaftliche Bildung; Weltraumforschung
Abstract	Forty years after Mariner 2, planetary exploration has still only just begun, and many more missions are on drawing boards, nearing the launch pad, or even en route across interplanetary space to their targets. One of the most challenging missions that will be conducted this decade is sending the MESSENGER spacecraft to orbit the planet Mercury. (MESSENGER, besides recalling that the Roman god Mercury was the messenger of Zeus, is an acronym for the MErcury: Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, Ranging mission.) Mercury is a diminutive planet, smaller than outer planet moons Ganymede and Titan. Yet it may be the linchpin to understanding planetary systems. Although Mercury is usually closer to Earth than Mars, it has withheld its secrets for far too long. The innermost planet, it plays tag with the Sun and can rarely be seen, setting soon after sunset or rising shortly before the Sun. At best, it is very low above the horizon during dusk or twilight. The largest, finest telescopes-- such as Hubble--cannot look toward Mercury for fear that stray sunlight might damage the equipment. For many years, scientists didn't even know how rapidly Mercury spins on its axis. It was long thought that it always kept the same face to the Sun, like the Moon does to the Earth, so that Mercury's day was the same as its year--88 Earth days. This mission must first weather the trials and tribulations of launch, the possibilities of technical failures that have marred some recent Mars missions, and survive for nearly a decade in one of the most appalling environments in the solar system. The entire MESSENGER project is a great gamble, worthy of past intrepid explorers. (ERIC).
Anmerkungen	National Science Teachers Association, 1840 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201-3000. Tel: 800-722-6782 (Toll Free); Web site: http://www.nsta.org.
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10