Solar storms and asteroids gave Mercury a comet-like tail; Can the same happen to Earth?
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It turns out, the Earth is not the only planet to be assaulted by incessant solar storm disturbances. The planet closest to the Sun, Mercury, is also being bombarded by solar storms on a regular basis. In fact, things are worse for Mercury. The planet is currently nearing its perihelion (the point in the orbit closest to the Sun) and is suffering from a high solar activity from an extremely close distance. On top of that, micro asteroids have plagued the planet. Together, they have given it a terrifying comet-like tail which can be a very confusing sight for astronomers. But the bigger question is, does the same fate await the Earth?A picture of Mercury with its tail was captured by Sebastian Voltmer from Spicheren, France, and posted on Instagram. In the picture, a plume of gas ...