May 23rd , 2024
Team LTG
Prepare to be amazed by the smallest planet in our solar system, Mercury! Despite its diminutive size, this little world is full of surprises.
Mercury is a mere 4,879 km (3,032 miles) in diameter. Just a bit larger than our moon, Mercury is the smallest planet, even smaller than some of Jupiter and Saturn's moons!
Mercury is the closest planet to the sun, with a scorching average surface temperature of 167°C (333°F).
Battered and bruised, Mercury's surface is covered in craters, evidence of its long history of asteroid impacts.
Due to its thin atmosphere, Mercury's nighttime temperatures plummet to -173°C (-279°F).
Mercury zips around the sun in just 88 Earth days, making it the fastest planet in our solar system.
Scientists believe Mercury has a massive iron core, possibly molten, which generates a weak magnetic field.
Believe it or not, Mercury has ice! It's found in permanently shadowed craters at the poles.
Despite its thin atmosphere, Mercury does have a tenuous layer of gases, including oxygen, sodium, hydrogen, helium, and potassium.
Unlike some of its larger planetary siblings, Mercury has no moons and a ring system.
Mercury gradually shrinks as its core cools and contracts, causing its surface to wrinkle.
Unlike Earth, Mercury's magnetic field is weak, but it's strong enough to deflect some solar wind.
NASA's Mariner 10 and MESSENGER spacecraft have given us valuable insights into this mysterious world.