A long-exposure image reveals Mercury's faint sodium tail, a glowing streak extending from the planet. Captured through a yellow filter highlighting the sodium emission, the image shows Mercury and its tail against a backdrop of stars. This phenomenon, first predicted in the 1980s and confirmed in 2001, showcases the unexpected dynamism of even the innermost planet.

Astronomy Picture from 08/07/2020

Mercury's Sodium Tail

Source: https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap200708.html


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