A new study has revealed the source of X-ray aurora seen on the planet Mercury. The research, conducted by a team of international scientists, has found that electrons from the Sun are the cause of the planet’s X-ray aurora.

The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, found that the electrons responsible for the X-ray aurora on Mercury are accelerated by the Sun’s magnetic field, and then travel to the planet’s vicinity. Once there, they interact with the planet’s magnetic field, producing the X-ray emission seen in the aurora.

This is the first time researchers have been able to identify the source of the X-ray aurora on Mercury, which has been a mystery for decades. The findings could help scientists better understand how the Sun affects other planets, and shed light on the processes that drive auroral activity in the Solar System.

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source: Phys.org