Astronomy magazine podcast: Mercury's core
Cornell University's Jean-Luc Margot explains the research that found Mercury's molten core.
Published:
May 3, 2007 Diagram showing the interior structure of Mercury. The metallic core extends from the center to a large fraction of the planetary radius. Radar observations show that the core or outer core is molten.
Photo by Nicolle Rager Fuller, National Science Foundation  Artistic rendering of the observational geometry. A radar signal (yellow) is transmitted from the Goldstone antenna in California. Radar echoes (red) are received at the Goldstone antenna and at the Robert C. Byrd telescope in Green Bank, West Virginia.
Photo by NRAO/AUI/NSF |
May 3, 2007
Astronomers using a high-precision planetary radar technique for the first time have discovered that the innermost planet Mercury probably has a molten core, resolving a mystery of more than three decades.
In this week's show, Jean-Luc margot, leader of the team that conducted the research, talks about what the team found.
After you listen, e-mail us here and let us know what you think.
To subscribe to our podcast, click here. |