Part 4/7:
Mercury's extreme temperature variations range from 430°C during the day to -180°C in shaded regions. The planet also faces relentless bombardment from solar radiation and winds, contributing to its thin atmosphere. An ongoing investigation focuses on Mercury's mysterious magnetic field, potential diamond layers beneath its surface, and theories suggesting that the planet might be shrinking. Launched in 2018, the BepiColombo mission is set to unravel these mysteries, and after its recent gravity-assist maneuver, it aims to deploy orbiters by 2026 to gather comprehensive scientific data.