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Massive grazing collision created Mercury, new theory says
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EarthSky
According to new research, Mercury originated from the massive grazing collision of two bodies of similar mass.
Massive grazing collision created Mercury, new theory saysMercury is the smallest and innermost planet in our solar system.
A grazing collision between two bodies of similar mass, however, would more easily explain oddities such as Mercury’s disproportionately large metallic core.
Massive collision created MercuryPatrick Franco at the National Observatory in Brazil led the new study into whether two similar-sized rocky bodies could form a planet similar to Mercury.
Source: Forming Mercury by a grazing giant collision involving similar mass bodiesSource (preprint): Formation of Mercury by a grazing giant collision involving similar-mass bodiesVia Agência FAPESPRead more: Mercury may have a 10-mile-thick layer of diamondsRead more: Mercury images from final flyby of BepiColombo!