Descrizione del progetto
Uno studio potrebbe offrire una visione completamente nuova del pianeta Mercurio
Mercurio è il pianeta più vicino al Sole, nonché il più piccolo del nostro sistema solare. La sua superficie appare craterizzata e priva di attività geologiche recenti, ma presenta un forte campo magnetico, il che presuppone che il nucleo del pianeta sia almeno parzialmente fuso. Il progetto MERCURYREFINEMENT , finanziato nell’ambito del programma di azioni Marie Skłodowska-Curie, sfrutterà i dati della missione MESSENGER per scoprire ulteriori informazioni sulla struttura interna, sul campo magnetico e sull’età della superficie di Mercurio. Saranno sviluppati modelli avanzati della composizione del nucleo del pianeta e condotte simulazioni di dinamo al fine di studiare la generazione dei campi magnetici per alcuni vincoli della dinamo. I risultati del progetto potrebbero rivelarsi utili per la prossima missione della sonda BepiColombo, che dovrebbe orbitare attorno a Mercurio nel 2025.
Obiettivo
As the inner-most object of our solar system, planet Mercury is of unique relevance for e.g. solar system dynamics, planetary formation theory, and terrestrial magnetic field generation. So far, two single (NASA) space missions to Mercury have been performed. In 2018, ESA and JAXA will launch the dual-satellite BepiColombo to study Mercury from orbit with the largest and most advanced payload to date. BepiColombo’s formal objectives have been formulated prior to NASA’s latest space mission to Mercury (MESSENGER). It is now time to use MESSENGER's data return to refine our view on Mercury as support for BepiColombo’s measurement phase, starting December 2025.
In this fellowship, MESSENGER data will be used to re-investigate Mercury’s interior structure, magnetic field and surface age. At the Royal Observatory of Belgium, advanced core-composition specific models on the planet’s interior will be developed. These will incorporate new experimental data on relevant metallic core-alloys which will be obtained at the High-Pressure laboratory of the VU University in Amsterdam and at synchrotron facilities. The potential of future geophysical measurements to constrain Mercury’s core composition will be the emphasize of these models.
Dynamo simulations will be performed at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research to study Mercury’s magnetic field generation for a suite of dynamo constraints. These will improve constraints on the core’s dynamic state, which relates to the planet’s structure and core composition.
Also, a new crater-counting-based surface dating method will be developed and calibrated by new models for the inner solar system’s dynamics. Applied to Mercury, this method will refine its surface age and its geological evolution and informs on the evolution and state of its mantle.
Results of the above topics will be discussed in light of the measurement potential of BepiColombo and other future space missions and in light of the planet’s formation.
Campo scientifico
Parole chiave
Programma(i)
Argomento(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinatore
1180 Bruxelles / Brussel
Belgio