Mercury shrinking faster than previously was believed

Mercury May Have Shrunk Far More Than Scientists Realized—and Its Cratered Surface Was Hiding the Evidence

Mercury may have shrunk 30% more than thought, as its cratered surface concealed evidence of the planet's ancient contractions.

Mercury shrinking faster than previously was believed

Mercury is, by far, the smallest planet in our solar system — about 1/29th the width of Jupiter and just one-third the width of Earth. One day, it might be even smaller. Read more...

Is tiny Mercury shrinking even faster than expected?

A new study shows that little, wrinkly Mercury may be shrinking faster than expected, the cosmos’ version of a grape shriveling into a raisin under the sun.

Masked tectonic structures suggest Mercury contracted 40% more than its visible scars alone indicate

The surface of Mercury is filled with craters, ridges and steep cliffs. Over billions of years, as the planet's interior cooled, the planet also shrank. Just as the skin of a drying fruit wrinkles when what is inside it shrinks, Mercury's rocky surface crumpled into ridges and cliffs as its interior cooled and the planet contracted. Mercury has quite literally grown smaller with age.