Magnetic Tornadoes Could Liberate Mercury's Tenuous Atmosphere
Tuesday, June 2, 2009 - 11:35
in Astronomy & Space
Mercury is scorching hot, with daytime temperatures of more than 800 degrees Fahrenheit. Its hard for the planet to hold on to its atmosphere, which is extremely thin, and invisible to the human eye. However, it can be seen by special instruments attached to telescopes and spacecraft like MESSENGER.