ScienceAugust 15, 2026
synchrony
SING-kruh-nee
Definition
The state of occurring at the same time or moving at the same rate, specifically used here to describe a rotation rate that matches an orbital period.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek 'synchronos,' meaning 'happening at the same time,' which combines 'syn-' (together) and 'chronos' (time).
In the news
The article uses the term to describe the earlier, incorrect belief that Mercury rotated at the same speed as its orbit, meaning the same side would always face the Sun. The 1965 radar findings proved that Mercury does not exist in this state of 1:1 rotation.
In 1965, scientists fired radar at Mercury: The returning echo revealed its Day was 59 Earth days, not th
Read the full article ↗The Times of India