Mercury Has a Magnetic Field And a Liquid Core, MESSENGER Reported Before Crashing

NASA's MESSENGER Spacecraft spent four years orbiting Mercury and during the course it sent several thousand pictures and huge chunk of related data. Though not everything can be explained exactly, scientists are almost sure that the Magnetic field of Mercury is possibly 4 million years old.

Researchers also observed that the crust of the planet is thicker in low altitudes and gets thinner at the pole, suggesting that the planet might have a liquid outer core. The core is huge and comprises of 85 percent of the radius of the planet. These observations are indication that the there's probably a layer of liquid iron sulphide just beneath the crust of Mercury.

MESSENGER plunged into Mercury's surface at 8,700 mph and before crashing it made a close analysis of the planet and spotted magnetic signals on it.

Catherine Johnson, planetary scientist, says that the magnetic signals registered on Mercury are too low to be otherwise detected and analyzed. Johnson added that Mercury's magnetic field was probably as strong as that of Earth, but its intensity has decreased considerably. It is also believed that Mercury has formed its magnetic field due to the liquid metal existing at its core.