Mercury | Fact & Information

Mercury

 Mercury is the planet closest to the Sun. It is the smallest planet of the solar system. With a diameter of about 4,828 km,the planet is barely larger than the Earth’s moon.

Mercury orbits the Sun faster than any other planet. It moves around the Sun in an elliptical orbit at an average speed of about 1,73,809 km/h. It takes around 88 Earth days to complete one revolution. A day on Mercury is 58.6 Earth days long. Mercury is the second densest planet alter Earth. The planet has a dense core composed of iron. The diameter of mercury’s core is between 3,600, to 3,800 km. Mercury has no known moons.

Surface features

Mercury’s surface is quite similar to the surface of Earth’s moon. It is made up of rocks and metals and is full of impact craters.The planet has broad, flat plains, steep cliffs and ridges, and terrains. These features on the planet have been named after various artists, mythological figures, and astronomers.

Atmosphere

Mercury does not have an atmosphere. It has a in exosphere made up of atoms blasted off the face of the planet by solar winds. The planet experiences extreme temperatures because of the absence of an atmosphere. The temperature on the surface of Mercury reaches a maximum of 430 °C during the day. 'Ihe nights are extremely cold as . w” the planet fails to retain any heat. Night temperatures drop to a minimum of 170 °C on the planet.

Caloris Basin

Caloris Basin is the largest crater on Mercury. It has a diameter of around 1,481.6 km and is surrounded by a ring of mountains. The crater was formed by the impact of a large meteorite. The floor of the crater is filled with lava plains.

Various names

Over the ages, the planet Mercury has been known by various names. The Sumerians called it Ubu-idim-gud-ud while the Babylonians named the planet Nabu or Nebu after the messenger to the gods. The Greeks named it Apollo and Hermes. The planet was named Mercuryby the Romans after their winged messenger to the gods.

Mission MESSENGER

NASA’s Space Environment, GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) rs the first spacecraft to orbit the planet Mercury. The spacecraft was launched in 2004. ‘ MESSENGER is supposed to orbit the planet and study its surface, crust and atmosphere. The spacecraft completed its Hyby of Venus and left for Mercury on 5 June 2007.