Mercury

Mercury.jpg

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.