PS2.1 Mercury |
Convener: Johannes Benkhoff | Co-Conveners: Joe Zender , Tim Van Hoolst , Valentina Galluzzi , Francesca Zambon , Bernard Charlier |
PICOs
/ Wed, 26 Apr, 10:30–12:00
|
Understanding the formation, evolution, composition and interior structure of Mercury is a primary goal of the NASA MESSENGER and ESA/JAXA BepiColombo missions and of many theoretical, observational, and experimental studies.
The wealth of data from MESSENGER, the first spacecraft ever in orbit around the planet, has led to many new insights and raised intriguing questions.
Those questions will be addressed by the BepiColombo mission, to be launched in 2018, but have also stimulated a multitude of studies based on igneous petrology, high-pressure physics, geodesy, and geodynamics, among others.
Advances in Hermian volcanism and tectonics also contributed to our grasp of Mercury's interior structure, fostering new theories and improving our knowledge on this small but challenging planet.
This session welcomes contributions on all aspects of Mercury's interior, from core to crust.