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You are here: Home / Space / What Is the Planet Mercury Made of and How Do Astronomers Know If Mercury’s Core Is Molten?

What Is the Planet Mercury Made of and How Do Astronomers Know If Mercury’s Core Is Molten?

August 4, 2020 by Karen Hill

Mercury is thought to be the densest of all the planets, which makes sense when you consider the theory that during the early phases of the solar system’s formation, the lightest materials were sent farthest into space.

For a planet so small to be so dense, it may be mostly solid metal.

Scientists believe that Mercury’s core, which is 2,100 miles (3,500 km) in diameter, makes up 60 percent of its mass.

Because the planet also has a magnetic field, at least some of its metal must be liquid or molten.

Rocky silicate material makes up both the crust and mantle, the mantle is a denser form of the crust, which together are about 400 miles (700 km) in depth.

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  • Who Discovered the Earth’s Core and Mantle and Which part of the Earth is liquid?
  • When Was the Planet Mercury First Discovered, How Did It Get Its Name, and What Does Mercury Mean In Latin?

Filed Under: Space

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

Previous Post: « How Did Land Form On Other Planets In the Solar System and How Do We Find Evidence of Volcanic Activity?
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