Photo: New Mercury Images Show Volcanoes, Magnetic Field, More



Mercury's surface is seen in an image taken by NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft during a January 2008 flyby—the first close-up examination of the solar system's innermost planet in decades.

Detailed analyses of the pictures, released in July 2008, revealed that the planet has volcanoes, may contain a liquid core, and has suffered dramatic geologic collapses in the past.

Image by NASA/APL


NEWS FEEDS    After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed. After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed.

Get our news delivered directly to your desktop—free.
How to Use XML or RSS

ADVERTISEMENT

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC'S PHOTO OF THE DAY

50 Drives of a Lifetime

National Geographic Traveler has scoured the globe for the world's most beautiful, interesting, and off-beat road trips. Dive in to get drive directions, quizzes, photos, and more.