Mercury

Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun and the smallest planet in our solar system. It has a very thin atmosphere, which cannot hold heat, leading to extreme temperature variations.

Surface and Atmosphere

The surface of Mercury is rocky and covered with craters. Its atmosphere is composed mainly of oxygen, sodium, hydrogen, helium, and potassium, but it's too thin to support life.

Temperature

Mercury experiences drastic temperature changes, from extremely hot during the day (up to 430°C) to freezing cold at night (down to -180°C).

Rotation and Orbit

Mercury has a very slow rotation on its axis, taking about 59 Earth days to rotate once, while it orbits the Sun in about 88 Earth days.

Exploration

Mercury has been visited by two spacecraft: Mariner 10 and MESSENGER, which provided valuable data about its geology and magnetic field.

Conclusion

Despite its harsh conditions, Mercury remains an object of interest for scientists, offering insights into the formation of our solar system. 🌌