MESSENGER's X-ray spectrometer reveals chemical diversity on Mercury's surface
Tuesday, October 2, 2012 - 08:01
in Physics & Chemistry
(Phys.org)—New data from the X-Ray Spectrometer (XRS) on the MESSENGER spacecraft—one of two instruments designed to measure the abundances of many key elements on Mercury—show variations in the composition of surface material on Mercury that point to changes over time in the characteristics of volcanic eruptions on the solar system's innermost planet.