Scientists have solved the mystery color of Mercury, the closest to the sun.
They argue that the surface is covered with a layer of carbon accumulated over billions of years from comets that pass by them, and that this layer of "painted" Mercury actually black.
"For a long time it was believed that a mysterious agent darkens the planet and contributes to its low reflection," said Megan Bruck Syral, a researcher at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. One thing, however, was not considered until now, namely that the matter could come from comets.
Planets that have no atmosphere like our satellite - the Moon, are often hit by micrometeorites. Since there is no air, this process generates a thin layer of particles that can darken the surface of planets. The analyzes suggested, however, that researchers layer is not sufficient, however, to achieve the color of Mercury.
Comets break into pieces when it approaches the Sun, located in close proximity to the planet Mercur.Praful comet is composed by 25% of carbon, so Merrcur would be exposed to a real "bombardment" of carbon due to comets.
Calculations and simulations researchers agree with this hypothesis and show that, in fact, the carbon acts like a Mercury "invisible paint.".
Source: Daily Mail
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