Abstract
Since the planet Mercury’s axis of rotation is perpendicular to the plane of its orbit, there exist regions at the north and south poles that are permanently in sunshine. This paper calculates the shape and size of these regions if Mercury were a perfect sphere. The eccentricity of Mercury’s orbit, combined with its 2:3 spin-orbit coupling result in these regions having a noncircular shape. They have a length of 60 km, a width of 48 km, and an area of 2146 km2.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
