What Processes Shape Planetary Surfaces?
ES2708  Shaping Mercury

One of the least-explored worlds of the solar system is Mercury. In 1974 and 1975, Mariner 10 made three flybys of Mercury, sending pictures back to Earth by radio signal. Since then, evidence from radar studies of Mercury has suggested the possibility of ice on its surface. New missions to Mercury scheduled for 2004 and 2009 hope to answer this and many other questions.
NASA/USGS
Mercury as seen by the Mariner 10 spacecraft. The blank regions are where no pictures were taken.

  !   Click each thumbnail image to see a larger version.

Examine each image to look for evidence of the surface processes at work on Mercury.

6. What processes do you see evidence of on the surface of Mercury? 



	

 	

		
			
	

	
	

		 
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