Mercury
Mercury is the closest planet to the sun. It is very difficult to observe from earth based telescopes due to the fact that it sets and rises within 2 hours of the sun. It is a dead and cratered world that closely resembles our own moon.
Planetary Data of Mercury | |
Rotation Period (Equatorial) | 58.65 days |
Average distance from sun | 57 900 000 km |
Sidereal Orbit Period | 87.969 days |
Sidereal Rotation Period | 1407.6 hours |
Average Orbital Velocity | 47.87 km/sec |
Radius of Planet | 2 439 km |
Mass of Planet | 3.32 x 10²³ kg |
Density of Planet | 5427 kg/m³ |
Temperature (Daytime) | 317ºC - 452ºC |
Temperature (Night) | - 170ºC |
Atmosphere | 42% Oxygen,
29% Sodium,
22% Hydrogen, 6% Helium |
Satellites | None |
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This photo of Mercury's surface was taken by Mariner 10.