As the nearest planet to the Sun, Mercury faces significant challenges. Not only is it the tiniest planet in our solar system, but Mercury’s crust is also fractured and sheared in multiple locations. The entire surface of this small planet is dotted with craters. The origins of these shearing cliffs and craters have consistently fascinated scientists, but we may now have a clearer understanding of their origins.
A recent study published in the *Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets* suggests that a team of scientists believes that Mercury’s surface may have been influenced by what are known as “tidal stresses.” These forces have often been ignored in the past, as they were generally deemed too insignificant to impact the shaping of a planet’s surface meaningfully.
While these tidal stresses are not expected to be the primary reason for the twisting and shearing of Mercury’s crust over the ages, they are regarded as a significant factor in the planet’s shaping process.
Due to its close distance to the Sun, Mercury has long been subjected to our star’s gravitational effects. These intense forces have resulted in some fascinating features across the planet’s surface. Additionally, the lack of atmosphere is likely due to the powerful energy from the Sun bombarding the planet.
The researchers examined how the gravitational forces from the Sun could have impacted Mercury’s crust over several billion years. They used simulations to illustrate how our solar system’s star’s gravitational influence could have induced tension on the planet, shaping its surface into the form we observe today. This development is quite intriguing and could enhance our understanding of the closest neighbor to our star.
The insights gained here may also be applicable to other planets, aiding our comprehension of Earth’s formation and the development of other planets such as Jupiter, Venus, and Mars. The scientists involved in the research are eager to further explore these findings using data from BepiColombo, a 2018 mission aimed at studying Mercury’s surface in greater detail.
