Mercury is closest planet to the Sun, and it is the smallest planet in the Solar System. Its proximity to the Sun gives the planet a huge range of temperatures. Because of its small size, cratered surface, and lack of a significant atmosphere, Mercury is often compared to Earth's Moon.Scientific Paper: Mercury: Magnetic Field and Magnetosphere
Quotes
"Scientists say the pictures reveal that the planet once had active volcanoes, and that Mercury is shrinking as it ages, leaving ridges reminiscent of wrinkles - strange features that may be a product of the planet's shrinking, cooling core."Popular Science: "The Incredible Shrinking Planet" (January 31, 2008)
"The spacecraft also discovered a unique feature that scientists dubbed "The Spider." This formation never has been seen on Mercury before and nothing like it has been observed on the moon." NASA: NASA Spacecraft Streams Back Surprises From Mercury (January 30, 2008)
Missions to Mercury
Future Missions
- BepiColombo - ESA/JAXA Orbiter Mission to Mercury (2013)
References
Fast Facts
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Fact:
Smallest planet in the Solar System
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Fact:
Discovered in ancient times
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Fact:
Named after the Roman god of commerce
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Radius
2,440 kilometers (46% of Earth's)
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Circumference
15,329 kilometers
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Surface area
74.8 million square kilometers (11% of Earth's)
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Mass
3.30x1023 kilograms
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Average distance from the Sun
57.9 million kilometers
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Fact:
No moons in its orbit
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Fact:
Temperature ranges between -173 and 427 degrees Celcius (-279 and 801 degrees FahrenheitNASA: Mercury - Facts & Figures
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Fact:
Atmosphere is extremely thin
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Atmospheric content
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#Oxygen
42%
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#Sodium
29%
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#Hydrogen
22%
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#Helium
6%
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#Potassium
0.5%
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Fact:
- Trace amounts of Argon, Carbon Dioxide, Water, Nitrogen, Xenon, Krypton, NeonNASA: Mercury Fact Sheet
