FundMECFS@lemmy.blahaj.zone to Ask Science@lemmy.worldEnglish · 12 days agoWhy haven't we ever landed a Rover on Mercury? Are there plans too?message-squaremessage-square17linkfedilinkarrow-up143arrow-down12
arrow-up141arrow-down1message-squareWhy haven't we ever landed a Rover on Mercury? Are there plans too?FundMECFS@lemmy.blahaj.zone to Ask Science@lemmy.worldEnglish · 12 days agomessage-square17linkfedilink
minus-squareTreczoks@lemmy.worldlinkfedilinkEnglisharrow-up4arrow-down1·12 days agoNo swings between day and night, mercury is tidal locked. So you could land on the hot side (+430°C) or on the cold side (-170°C), and it stays this way. Landing at the border between day and night is probably even more challenging.
minus-squareCarrolade@lemmy.worldlinkfedilinkEnglisharrow-up14·12 days agoMercury actually isn’t tidally locked, it has a 3:2 resonance, so does have a day/night cycle.
No swings between day and night, mercury is tidal locked. So you could land on the hot side (+430°C) or on the cold side (-170°C), and it stays this way. Landing at the border between day and night is probably even more challenging.
Mercury actually isn’t tidally locked, it has a 3:2 resonance, so does have a day/night cycle.
TIL. Thanks.