Despite being very near to the Sun and having daytime temperatures of up to 750°F (450°C), it would be very surprising to hear that there could be ice on such a planet.
In 2011, a NASA probe began orbiting Mercury and confirmed signals typical of glacial ice near the poles. The MESSENGER (MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging) spacecraft sent back images and data that corroborated previous signatures for ice picked up years earlier by Earth-based radar.
So how does ice form on this planet? An upcoming study that will be published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters explains what helps Mercury make ice.
Check out more details about this over at ScienceDaily.
(Image Credit: NASA/ Wikimedia Commons)
i mean one side is away from the sun so
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