Q2945

On November 29, 2012 astronomers were taking a good look at the surface of mercury and discovered that the planet has strange icy organic material on the surface. Even though this planet reaches the temperatures of at least 800 degrees Fahrenheit and forms small pockets on Mercury’s surface. Those temperatures are able to melt and liquefy lead. The surprising discovery suggests to scientists that both ice and organic material, such as carbon, may have been deposited on Mercury's surface by impacts from comets or asteroids. "We thought the most exciting finding could be that this really was water ice," says Maria Zuber. In the 1990s, scientists discovered water on the surface of Mercury, so there is no big surprise, but what was a surprise were the amounts they found. Most of the water found are shadowed by large craters located at the North Pole of Mercury. But the downfall of Mercury is the orbit. If the probe travels in front of the sun it will show many weird images because of the suns strong radiation waves.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "Scientists discover water ice on Mercury: Ice and organic material may have been carried to the planet by passing comets." // ScienceDaily //, 29 Nov. 2012. Web. 29 Nov. 2012