Research Paper On Mercury's Magnetic Field

Mercury’s Magnetic Field Raises Interest of Researchers

As more time goes on, we’re learning more and more about the world around us. Take Mercury for instance, one of NASA’s favorite subjects. Lately, more and more is being learned about the planet. We know it’s small, hot, and is filled with craters, and that’s just the basics. We also know it has a magnetic field that is significant to the planet. Mercury’s magnetic field is not as strong as Earth’s, but it has its own magnetosphere.

Mercury‘s magnetic field has a dipole, which just means it has two magnetic poles. These poles are significant and global to the planet. In 1974, the Mariner 10 gave us the information and we’re still discovering it today. The spacecraft initially measured

A mechanism that can generate a magnetic field, like a star or Earth, is rotating, convecting and electrically conducting with a fluid maintaining that magnetic field. A dynamo is understood to be the source of the Earth’s magnetic field, as well as contributing to the magnetic fields of other planets, such as Mercury.

Mercury’s magnetic field is strong. This magnetic field is so strong that it actually slows down the solar winds, creating a magnetosphere. The magnetosphere (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetosphere) is the area of space that’s near the planet where charged particles are controlled. Take Earth for example. Earth’s magnetosphere is usually referred to the outer most layer of the ionosphere. Some people believe the ionosphere and the magnetosphere are separate.

Scientists Speculate on Creation of Magnetic

Because Mercury’s magnetic field is weaker than the Earth’s, scientists also reveal that it is weaker than Jupiter’s moon, Ganymede’s as well. It may be because Mercury has actually cooled its core and solidified.

It could be that Mercury’s magnetic field has changed since the Mariner 10 explored it versus when the Messenger did. This is still uncertain though. The lack of agreement between the Mariner 10 and the Messenger may be due to limitations of the spatial distribution and its own observations.

Now, the Hubbard is exploring Mercury. Actually, many of our astrophysical objects do in fact generate strong magnetic fields. Magnetic fields can be difficult to analyze due to the mathematical equations that are involved. Mercury is capable of having a magnetic field because its temperatures are high enough. It can ionize metals such as potassium and sodium and its already been said that these magnetic fields slow down the atmospheric circulation. A lot of Mercury still remains a mystery, but we are slowly getting closer and closer to unveiling it.

Image title: Mercury’s Magnetic Field Raises Interest of