Mercury is the smallest planet and closest to the sun. It is the hottest planet so life of any form is impossible. However, the recent valley formation in Mars proves that it may have been like Earth once and that life actually flourished in the planet.
According to Astronomy, a new study on Mercurian valley bolsters the case of it being a shrinking planet. The valley formation in Mars may have been formed in response to global contraction. Mercury's interior cooled which caused for its outer layer to bend and contract.
The valley formation in Mercury was found using a high-resolution topographic map of the southern hemisphere of Mercury. It was taken by NASA Messenger spacecraft.
The valley formation in Mercury found measured 250 miles wide and 600 miles. The valley also measured two miles deep. There were also two large scarps found surrounding the valley. The floor of the valley is below the terrain. Scientists believe that it was lowered the same way as the scarps.
Poor little #Mercury is Getting Even Smaller https://t.co/u8UxDL0LjN pic.twitter.com/NZ8dg7V7pu
— LifesLittleMysteries (@LLMysteries) November 20, 2016
The valley formation in Mercury is different from the one found in East Africa. The great valley of Mercury is not formed because of pulling apart of lithospheric plates from plate tectonics. The valley formation in Mercury is a direct result of global contraction of a shrinking one-planet.
As added by NASA, the likely explanation for the valley formation in Mercury is by two large scarps. The scarps resemble that of cliff-like landforms which look like stair steps. The valley formed because of the planet's interior cooling and the shrinking was accommodated by crystal rocks being pushed together.
The report that Mercury shrinking may or may not have an adverse effect on the solar system. However, it is baffling to even imagine that its interior cooled when the sun is its closest neighbor.
The valley formation found in Mars proves the planet is shrinking. As this shrinking continues, in few million years, it will remain as history. It may disappear or may just be left as a big spec of an asteroid orbiting around the sun.
