1. A Place Called Home Discuss the questions on the blue sheet on your table. (Answers provided at end of session.)

2. MESSENGER Mission to Mercury Dr. Debra Gallagher Messenger Fellow

4. WHY MERCURY??? Fast Facts and Key questions

5. Planet closest to the sun

6. Length of the Year 88days @ 172,000km/h Orbit is more oval-shaped than Earths’ 4 Mercury orbits =1 Earth year!

7. However, the Length of Day …(sunrise to sunset) is 60 times slower than Earth, so a single day takes 2 Mercury years!!

8. Size Diameter is 4,879 km vs Earth at 12,756km Second smallest planet, larger than Pluto

9. Gravity Mercury’ pull is 37% that of Earth’s If you weigh 135 lb. on Earth, you weigh 50 lbs on Mercury!

10. Weird orbit! Mercury is the only celestial object with a 3:2 spin orbit – what does that mean???

11. Magnetic field Discovered by Mariner 10 Smallest planet with an Earth-like magnetic field, but it is weaker

12. Too Hot/Too cold Mercury has the highest variation in surface temperature Daytime- sweltering, over 450 C (850F) Nighttime—180C (-300F) brrrr

13. Atmosphere Extremely tenuous, virtually a vacuum compared to Earth! Cannot moderate temperature like our atmosphere does Although there is oxygen, there is not enough to fill your lungs

14. So what do we want to know now? Why is Mercury so dense? What is the geologic history? What is the structure of the core? What is the nature of the magnetic field? What are the unusual materials at the poles? What volatiles are important at Mercury?

15. How do we know?

16. Enter the MESSENGER MErcury Surface Space ENvironment GEochemistry and Ranging mission!

17. The MESSENGER spacecraft

18. What is the geologic history?

19. What is the structure of the core?

20. Why is Mercury so dense?

21. What is the nature of the magnetic field?

22. What are the unusual materials at the poles?

23. What volatiles are important at Mercury?

24. And we are doing this because …? Learning more about this small terrestrial planet will give us clues about the formation of the solar system, evolution of the planets, how magnetic fields are generated insight into the formation and evolution of Earth!! Whew!

25. 1/20/201625 Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry and Ranging

27. http://btc.montana.edu/messenger/main/epo.php

30. 1/20/201630 Mission Timeline

32. Consider an ice experience from your life. Write or draw your experience. Share that experience with your table group. Choose one of the experiences to share with the large group.

34. What are shadows? What does a shadow do? How can shade protect the MESSENGER from the sun?

35. The Herschel Experiment

37. Use the Solar System bookmarks to assist you in completing the Planet Quiz found on your table. When you are finished, you can choose one of the bookmarks to keep Journey Through Our Solar System.

38. Design a spacecraft mission to explore another world in the Solar System. Use the Mission Design handout on your table and work in groups of 4 to complete the task. Good Luck!!!