this post was submitted on 17 Apr 2025
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[–] CrookedSerpent@hexbear.net 21 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] HiImThomasPynchon@hexbear.net 8 points 2 months ago

Is it, though?

[–] AtmosphericRiversCuomo@hexbear.net 16 points 2 months ago

Because the sun's magnetic field pulled iron-rich particles inward during the planet-forming process, causing Mercury to accumulate a much higher proportion of metal compared to rock.

[–] HelluvaBottomCarter@hexbear.net 14 points 2 months ago

I don't think we should be pointing out how big the cores of other planets are. Seems rude.

[–] HiImThomasPynchon@hexbear.net 14 points 2 months ago

It's not. Mercury is hollow. Inside is Earth.

[–] InevitableSwing@hexbear.net 14 points 2 months ago

Because that's where the flavor is.

[–] Facky@hexbear.net 13 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] HiImThomasPynchon@hexbear.net 10 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Look at Mercury's core! It's enormous! He's not civilized, like us!

[–] Facky@hexbear.net 6 points 2 months ago
[–] kleeon@hexbear.net 12 points 2 months ago

My guess is because it's closer to the sun. Lighter elements got blown out by solar winds to outer parts of the solar system, while heavier elements(like metals) generally stayed in the middle

[–] plinky@hexbear.net 10 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

tidal forces maybe? *seems like no, i was thinking of it being molten, not big

[–] InevitableSwing@hexbear.net 9 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Sigh. Googling used to be fun for me. But now I tend to get annoyed. Answers seem to contradict each other. I'll leave this here - https://www.google.com/search?q=why+does+mercury+have+a+huge+core

[–] plinky@hexbear.net 10 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] InevitableSwing@hexbear.net 7 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I don't know if astronomy.com is a good site plus it's an old article: "November 26, 2012".

[–] Lamprey@hexbear.net 8 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

I'm going to guess that the heat from the sun has stripped away all but the most robust elements from the surface.

Post guess reading:

Damn others had the theory but it's been disproven

[–] RuthBaderGonesburg@hexbear.net 6 points 2 months ago

Sun keep it warm like those lamps at the Chinese buffet

[–] came_apart_at_Kmart@hexbear.net 5 points 2 months ago

because it does all those ab workouts, stretches, and planks, and balancing with good posture unlike you HGH bozos that just stand around drinking pre-workout and hitting your glamour muscles.

[–] CrispyFern@hexbear.net 5 points 2 months ago

I think it's normal and the other planets just have weirdly small cores

[–] Sasuke@hexbear.net 5 points 2 months ago

everything is egg

[–] MineDayOff@hexbear.net 5 points 2 months ago
[–] stupid_asshole69@hexbear.net 3 points 2 months ago

Just lucky I guess

[–] 4am@lemm.ee 3 points 2 months ago

What’s in my pants at the end of November, bros 😏

[–] merthyr1831@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 months ago