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Some facts about Mercury and the reasons behind them:

(*for the element mercury, see the related question)

  1. It is the closest planet to the sun and is the smallest planet in the solar system
  2. Until recently, humans had only seen one half of Mercury. The Mariner 10 space probe (1974-1975) passed the planet three times, but each time saw the same side in sunlight.
  3. Mercury has no moons. It is probably too close to the Sun to allow a stable orbit.
  4. Mercury has a magnetic field. Unlike our Moon, it has an iron core. But the field is only about 1% as strong as Earth's.
  5. There may be ice on Mercury. Deep craters near the poles never receive much sunlight.
  6. NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft has been orbiting Mercury beginning in March, 2011.
  7. Mercury is about 4880 kilometers in diameter, only 2/5 the size of Earth.
  8. It is a rocky planet and an inner planet.
  9. Its surface temperature varies dramatically from more than 800°F (on the sunlit side) to nearly -300°F (on the side facing away)
  10. Mercury has virtually no atmosphere, only a thin collection of gas near its surface. Its surface is heavily cratered.
  11. One year for Mercury is 88 Earth days. It slowly turns one every 58.65 Earth days. The result is a very long solar day(sunrise to sunrise) of 156 Earth days.
  12. It is one of the five planets known to the ancients, they called these planets "wandering stars."
  13. It was named for the Roman god Mercury, a winged messenger.
  14. It circles the sun faster than any other planet
  15. The plant and animal life of the Earth could not live on Mercury because of the lack of oxygen and the intense heat
  16. From Earth, it appears as a bright, light blue spot of light.

More Details on Mercury

Mercury is the innermost and smallest planet in the solar system, orbiting the Sun once every 88 days. It appears as a bright star from Earth, shortly after sunset or shortly before sunrise.

Mercury is similar to the Moon; it is heavily cratered, and has no substantial atmosphere. However, unlike the moon, it has a large molten iron core, which gives it a magnetic field (still only about 1% as strong as Earth's).

Its surface temperature ranges between -300°F and 800°F. It is coldest in craters near the poles, which never receive much solar heating. As the planet completes one slow turn about its axis, most of its surface experiences 88 Earth days of scorching sun followed by 88 Earth days of incredibly frigid night. Because it has virtually no atmosphere, there is little heat exchange between the opposite sides of the planet.

More information is being gained by NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft, which mapped about 40% of the planet during flybys in 2008 and 2009. The probe began orbiting in March 2011, and will survey and map the entire planet.

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Related Questions

What is a catchy title for a science experiment on the element Mercury?

This is where you do your research and actually learn some facts about Mercury. Make a list of 25-50 facts about Mercury and pick one fact to be your title, like "The Hottest Planet."


Is mercury a planet or dwarf planet?

Mercury is a planet.


Why is mercury a dwarf- planet?

Mercury is not a dwarf planet. It is a planet.


What are four more facts about mercury?

Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system. It has a very thin atmosphere mostly made up of oxygen, sodium, hydrogen, helium, and potassium. Mercury has extreme temperature variations between its day and night sides. It has no moons or rings.


Where planet Mercury came from?

Mercury is itself a planet - it did not come from a planet!


How does the planet Mercury's spins?

how does the planet mercury's spins?


What planet is the closer planet to the sun?

Mercury


What is mercury's raw planet?

Mercury is the planet: there is no raw (or ripe) planet associated with it!


Is there interresting facts about mercury?

Yes there is and here are some of them*mercury was named after the roman gods messanger* It is the fastest planet to orbit around the sun*it is 58 million kilometres away


What are facts you can't find anywhere else about the planet Mercury?

Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system and has the most eccentric orbit, meaning it is the most elliptical. It also has a very thin atmosphere composed mainly of oxygen, sodium, hydrogen, and helium. Additionally, Mercury's surface temperature can vary drastically, reaching up to 800 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and dropping to -290 degrees Fahrenheit at night.


Temperatures on mercury-?

Mercury is a very hot planet. Mercury is the closest planet to the sun.


Is the planet mercury and the element mercury the same thing?

No, the planet Mercury is just called Mercury. The element Mercury (Hg) is a chemical element and has nothing to do with the naming of the planet Mercury.