For the first time ever, a space probe is orbiting the planet Mercury.
The name of the probe is Messenger. Messenger is sending data and pictures back to Earth about conditions on Mercury.
If Messenger is sending messages to beings on Mercury, I'm sorry to the great degree that this blog post is missing the real story.
Here is the NASA home page for Messenger.
Here is how the BBC reported Messenger reaching Mercury's orbit.
(Above---Messenger orbiting Mercury as seen by an artist.)
I'm glad I live in a time where we've been able to learn about the planets in our solar system.
Even more amazing, we've been learning about planets outside our solar system. I never thought that would be possible in my lifetime.
If intelligent aliens exist on these distant planets, I implore them to stay away.
They will bring terrible diseases. They will enslave us. They will steal our oceans.
What is it like on Mercury?
Mercury is a terrible place.
At least it is in the context of human existence.
I imagine that in the full scheme of existence, Mercury is just like it needs to be.
"Temperatures on Mercury's surface can reach 800 degrees Fahrenheit (430 degrees Celsius). Because the planet has no atmosphere to retain that heat, nighttime temperatures on the surface can drop to -280 degrees Fahrenheit (-170 degrees Celsius)."
Below is a picture of Mercury sent from Messenger.
A book about the solar system I enjoy is called The Grand Tour--A Traveler's Guide To The Solar System by Ron Miller and William Hartmann.
Grand Tour has many pictures, drawings and facts about all aspects of our solar system. The book is currently in a third edition.
Here is the National Geographic page on the Solar System.
Some people say government should only pertain to the most minimal functions.
Yet it is only government that could fund missions to understand distant space.
There are no minerals on Mercury that we will be mining from private profit. There are no advertising jingles that Messenger will be sending from Mercury.
There is so much to learn about existence. There is so much context to understand as we consider our views about the world.
Every person has the ability to learn about any subject.
Take the time it requires to learn about our world.
The more we learn, the better we will understand all that is taking place.
Um, that "discovery" is strongly disputed within the scientific community. This very same sample and conclusion was shot down in the 1960's as not at all convincing evidence. Methinks the media is a little more savy than we might give them credit for.
Our whole lives we've wondered if their is life beyond earth, and buried on about page four of the New York Times a few weeks ago came the answer. Scientists were able to tell that fossilized microbial life that was discovered on an asteroid had come from the asteriod, and had not been deposited there upon entry onto earth.
Isn't that just like the media? Jon Benet Ramsey can get front page headlines, but when they discover LIFE FROM ANOTHER SOLAR BODY, well....let's bury that story.
I for one welcome our alien overlords. (not really)