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Exploring Mercury: The Solar System's Intriguing Messenger

Discover the characteristics, orbit, surface, atmosphere, and fascinating facts about Mercury, the smallest planet in our solar system. Learn about its geology, discoveries, and ongoing missions. Delve into the mysteries of this iron-rich world with this comprehensive guide.

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Exploring Mercury: The Solar System's Intriguing Messenger

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  1. Mercury The Smallest Of The Planets

  2. Characteristics of Mercury • Diameter : 3,032 miles • Mass : 3.30 x 1023 kg • Density : 5.427g /cm3 • Surface Gravity : 3.7 m/sec2 • Axial Tilt : 1/30 of a degree • Least in the Solar System

  3. Mercury Orbit • Average Orbit Speed • 107,082 miles/hour • Average Distance To The Sun • 35,980,000 miles • Period Of Rotation • 58.65 days • Period Of Revolution • 88 days • One day on Mercury • Sun rises halfway, Reverses, Rises again

  4. Surface & Atmosphere of Mercury • Terrain : Heavily cratered • Similar to Earth’s Moon • Temperature Range : -280 ˚F to 800 ˚F • Atmosphere : No atmosphere (weak gravity) • Geology • Most iron-rich planet in the Solar System • Caloris Basin • Meteor impact (810 miles in diameter) • Surrounded by 2-km tall mountains

  5. Mercury Discoveries • 1st discovered by 14th century Assyrian astronomers • Mariner 10 : (1974-1975) • 1st close-up images of the surface • Messenger : (2008) • Complete mapping of Mercury • BepiColombo : (2015) • Studying the magnetosphere • Joint mission between the European Space Agency and Japan

  6. Mercury Facts • No natural satellites (moons) • No rings • Covered in scarps (wrinkles) • Caused by iron core cooling and contracting • Named after Roman messenger to the Gods • Most heavily cratered planet in the Solar System

  7. Mercury Video • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KY-oB2i9lo

  8. Literature Cited • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_(mytholog • http://www.pantheon.org/articles/c/mercury.html • http://www.theoi.com/Khthonios/Mercury.html • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_(moon) • http://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/c/mercury_(moon).htm

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