Features of the Physical Characteristics and Internal Structure of Mercury

Mercury is the closest to the Sun and the smallest of the classical planets of the Solar System. Mercury is characterized by a unique internal structure. It has a disproportionately large metallic core, a complex geological history, large-scale volcanism and global compression. In 1974-1975, the “Mariner 10” spacecraft first mapped almost 45% of the surface up close. Studies showed a heavily cratered landscape with huge ledges on the surface, registered the presence of a weak magnetic field, etc. The “MESSENGER” mission became the first spacecraft to enter orbit around Mercury in 2011 and spent 4 years there. It carried out global mapping of the surface, studied its chemical composition, measured the magnetic and gravitational fields, explored the exosphere, confirmed the presence of water ice in the polar regions, confirmed the presence of large-scale volcanic activity on Mercury in the past, specified the size and condition of its huge core, performed a detailed study of tectonic structures, and confirmed the presence of a former global compression of the planet. Above the core is a silicate mantle 300-390 km thick and a crust with a total thickness of up to 400 km. Now the research baton has been taken over by the joint European-Japanese mission “BepiColombo”.