Home

Images

Mercury

Sun

Links

About Mercury
Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun. It orbits around the Sun in about 88 days. Temperatures on the surface can reach 467 degrees Celsius. But since it has almost no atmosphere it cools down during nighttime to -183 degrees Celcius.

Because Mercury is so close to the Sun, it is hard to see from Earth except during twilight. It's Radius is 2440 km (0,38 of Earth's radius).

Because of the lack of atmosphere it's surface looks much like that of the Moon. Meteorites do not burn up in the atmosphere and all impact the surface. Without the erosion from water and wind all craters stay on the surface.

The only spacecraft ever visited Mercury was Mariner 10, launched November 3 1973.

These photographs are taken by Mariner 10: