What are 3 facts about Mercury?
At a distance of only about 1/3 of Earth’s distance to Sun, Mercury is the first planet in our Solar System. With a diameter of only 4880 kilometers (3032 miles) Mercury is the smallest planet in the Solar System. It is barely bigger than our Moon. Not only is Mercury the smallest planet, it is also shrinking!
What are 10 facts about Mercury?
Interesting Facts About Mercury
- Mercury has water ice and organics.
- The water ice appears younger than we would expect.
- Mercury has an atmosphere that changes with its distance to the Sun.
- Mercury’s magnetic field is different at its poles.
- Despite Mercury’s weak magnetic field, it behaves similarly to Earth’s.
What is special about Mercury?
Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun and is also the smallest of the eight planets in our solar system. For every 2 orbits of the Sun, which takes around 88 Earth days, Mercury completes three rotations of its axis. It is gravitationally locked and this rotation is unique to the solar system.
How many rings does Mercury have?
Ringless. There are no rings around Mercury.
Who lives on Mercury?
Scientists do not believe there has ever been life on Mercury. The atmosphere on Mercury is almost non-existant. It doesn’t protect the planet from the harsh radiation of the Sun or radiation from space, nor does it trap heat and provide a breathable atmosphere. Mercury is inhospitable and sterile.
How long can you survive on Mercury?
Mercury rotates relatively slowly, so in order to survive, all you need is just catch the moment when the daytime temperature changes to the nighttime temperature, something comfortable between 800ºF and −290ºF. But anyhow 90 seconds is about how much time you could spend there.
What if Mercury had rings?
Unfortunately, Mercury could never get rings like this. The powerful solar winds blast out from the Sun, and would melt and destroy any icy rings around Mercury. In fact, ice can’t exist closer to the Sun than the asteroid belt, unless it’s hidden in shadow, or protected by an atmosphere like we have on Earth.
What happens if we live on Mercury?
Still, dealing with extreme temperatures on Mercury would likely be unavoidable: Daytime temperatures on the planet can reach 800 degrees Fahrenheit (430 degrees Celsius), while nighttime temperatures can drop down to minus 290 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 180 degrees Celsius).
Can humans go to Mercury?
No, Mercury has been visited by spacecraft from Earth, but no human has ever gone into orbit around Mercury, let alone stepped on the surface. However, the temperatures on Mercury are much greater. During the daytime, the surface of Mercury at the equator rises to 700 Kelvin (427 degrees C).