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This photo shows a 68-mile-diameter crater, large indentation at center, in the north polar region of Mercury which has been shown to harbor water ice

This photo shows a crater, large indentation at center, in the north polar region of Mercury which has been shown to harbor water ice. (AP Photo/NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington)

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NASA: Closest planet to sun, Mercury, harbors ice

Messenger is the first spacecraft to orbit Mercury

Updated: Thursday, 29 Nov 2012, 2:40 PM EST
Published : Thursday, 29 Nov 2012, 2:40 PM EST

MARCIA DUNN,AP Aerospace Writer

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A NASA spacecraft has confirmed there's ice at Mercury's north pole.

Scientists announced Thursday that the orbiting probe, Messenger, has found evidence of frozen water, even though Mercury is the closest planet to the sun. The ice is located in the permanently shadowed region of Mercury's north pole. It's thought to be at least one-and-a-half feet deep — and possibly as much as 65 feet deep.

Scientists say it's likely Mercury's south pole also has ice, though there are no data to support it. Messenger orbits much closer to the north pole than the south.

Radar measurements, for years, have suggested the presence of ice. Now scientists know for a fact.

Messenger is the first spacecraft to orbit Mercury. It was launched in 2004.

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