National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s ‘MESSENGER’ left the Earth to Mercury in 2004.After reaching Mercury in 2008, the spacecraft orbited it for almost four years.
Last week, the spacecraft crashed into the surface of the planet. But before the crash, the spacecraft has sent some very vital information on Mercury’s magnetic fields.
As per reports, new data sent by the spacecraft indicates that the magnetic field of mercury is more than four billion years old. The new information is expected to unveil more minute details about the planet which is staying very near to the sun.
The new study was published in a paper from the Planetary Science Institute published in the journal Science.Catherine Johnson, a University of British Columbia planetary scientist and lead author of the study told that no body expected the MESSENGER mission to last four years, as everyone planned the mission for just a single year.
As per scientists, the magnetic field of mercury is much similar like Earth, but it very weak compared to our planet. Mercury is the only planet in our solar system to hold such a magnetic field besides the earth.
Before the crash, MESSENGER flew very close to the surface of the planet, and during this time, its magnetometer collected data on the magnetism of the rocks. As per latest indications, the magnetic field is almost 3.7 – 3.9 billion years old.
Earth’s magnetic field is 4.5 billion years old, and this indicates that both earth and mercury were formed almost on the same time.