Investigate the Data

How did MESSENGER discover water ice on Mercury, and where is it located? Explore data from the spacecraft and interact with maps of Mercury to discover for yourself!

Water Ice Data Exploration

Water Ice Data Exploration

Despite the fact that Mercury is the closest planet to our Sun, it has long been postulated that water ice could be stable in cold, permanently shadowed regions of the north and south poles. Use this interactive mapping tool to explore data collected from various sources, numerous instruments, and spanning over 40 years. Can you find the water ice deposits?

Mosaic Postcards from Mercury

Mosaic Postcards from Mercury

Mimic the process used by MESSENGER scientists and make a mosaic of Mercury using the print materials, or click on any of the Mercury mosiacs to learn more about the unique features found on and near the surface of the planet.

Mercury Mappers

Mercury Mappers

Map the surface of Mercury by marking and measuring craters and linear surface features in images from the MESSENGER spacecraft. By mapping craters across the planet, we can start to piece together the global crater population and learn more about the solar system's inner-most planet.

Games and Simulations

How do spacecraft use gravity to speed up or slow down? What does Mercury's 3:2 spin-orbit resonance actually look like? How do the masses and sizes of the planets in our Solar System compare to one another? Find the answers to all of these great questions and more in these games and simulations!

Gravity Assist Simulator

Gravity Assist Simulator

Open Simulator

Save fuel...use gravity! Spacecraft often use the gravity of planets to change their speed and direction. Use this Gravity Assist Simulator to explore how these maneuvers can be used to speed up, slow down, and change the trajectory of a spacecraft. Important: this simulator was designed to be used in conjunction with this activity and datasheet Invisible Collisions.

Planet Size Comparison

Planet Size Comparison

Open Simulator

Mercury is the smallest planet in our Solar System, and is, in fact, not much larger than our Moon. How does Mercury's size compare to the other planets? Play to find out!

A Day on Mercury Interactive

A Day on Mercury

Open Simulator

Since Mercury rotates exactly three times for every two orbits, a day on Mercury would be quite different from a typical Earth day. In fact, because of this 3:2 resonance, you would have daylight for 88 consecutive Earth days followed by 88 Earth days of darkness. Even more interesting is the path of the Sun as seen from the surface of Mercury around high noon. In this animation you can experience this typical Mercurian day.

Going Around the Sun

Going Around the Sun

Open Simulator

Mercury travels around the Sun faster than any other planet, taking only 88 Earth days to orbit the Sun. Unlike the Earth, whose rotation on its axis takes 24 hours, Mercury takes about 59 Earth days to make complete rotation. Mercury's rotational period is exactly 2/3 of the time it takes for Mercury to complete one orbit around the Sun. In this animation you can explore this 3:2 spin-orbit resonance.

Places in the Sun

The Sun on Mercury

Open Simulator

Because Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun, the Sun would appear much larger than it does on Earth. Sunrise to sunset on the planet Mercury takes 88 Earth days where the sun would appear to grow and shrink in size. In this animation you can experience a different view of the Sun.

Fast Fact Challenge I

Fast Fact Challenge I

Open Simulator

Want to challenge yourself with some Mercurian Trivia? If so, check out the Fast Fact Challenge which contains questions about this mysterious planet.

Fast Fact Challenge II

Fast Fact Challenge II

Open Simulator

If the first Fast Fact Challenge wasn't so challenging, test your knowledge here with more Mercurian trivia.

Geohunter

Geohunter

Analyze images of Mercury's surface to find features such as scarps, impact craters, and more in this interactive game.

Make a Mission

Make a Mission

In this interactive, you should build a spacecraft in order to explore the planet Mercury—just as the NASA team did when they planned and built the real MESSENGER spacecraft!

MESSENGER Models

Make a scale model of the MESSENGER spacecraft and learn about the onboard instruments.

simple MESSENGER model

Simple Model

All you need is a printer, glue, scissors, and a coffee stirrer or small straw to assemble this scale model of the MESSENGER spacecraft. NOTE: If you print on card stock (heavier paper) your model will be easier to work with and last longer!

advanced MESSENGER model

Advanced Model

This scale model requires a bit more time and patience, but the final product is amazing!