Mercury, the innermost planet of the solar system, is a little bigger than the earths moon. However, mercury has a very thin atmosphere, so the heat of the day escapes very quickly at nighttime. Mercury was only discovered as a planet it 1543, nobody realised it was a planet. It is the planet of daytoday expression and communication. Mercury is the second densest planet in the solar system after earth. Its very similar in size to earth, but very different in lots of other ways. Mercury has a different type of ice that can form in warm. This dense metal is atomic number 80 with element symbol hg. As of the beginning of the twentyfirst century, mariner 10 had been the only spacecraft to explore the planet. Mission to mercury get the facts on mercury, the closest planet to the sun. Mercurys proximity to the sun has also been exploited to confirm predictions made by relativity theory about the way gravity affects space and time. Free printable pdf with mercury facts reading the facts is one thing and it can be sufficient if your kid is a reading type but visualising things can be even better. National aeronautics and space administrationnational.
As well as facts, we offer a range of other things, such as pictures, history, wallpapers and more. Mercury can also get as low as 270 degrees at its night. Mercury has no atmosphere and no known satellites, perhaps because of its proximity to the sun. However, after the ouster of pluto from the category of planets, mercury has occupied the position of the smallest planet in our solar system. Mercury is the messenger in astrology as it is in mythology. A day on the surface of mercury lasts 176 earth days. Mercury may be the closest planet to the sun but it experiences temperature changes that are the most extreme of any planet in the solar system, including dropping to 275 f170 c. Mar 06, 2020 mercury is the closest planet to the sun at a distance of 57. Planet facts for kids science for kids fun facts to learn. Mercury is also the smallest planet in the solar system, measuring just 3,032 miles wide at its equator.
Mercury is closest to the sun as compared to other planets order of the planets from the sun. Mercury is only slightly larger than the earths moon. Visited only once in all the years of solar system exploration three brief flybys of mariner 10 during 197475, only about 45% of mercurys surface has been imaged from nearby. Mercurys action is to take things apart and put them back together again. Next to the planet pluto, mercury is one of the least explored planets within our solar system. Thats why ive created this fun printable with all the facts.
Mercury is the smallest planet in the solar system and the closest to the sun. This website, provides facts about the planets which will amaze and interest you. Which side of the planet is the sun on in this photo. Transit of mercury mercury planet facts dk find out. Planet mercury the planet mercury is the closest planet to the sun. The difficulty in seeing it notwithstanding, mercury was known at least by sumerian times, some 5,000 years ago. Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system only. It is the smallest planet in the solar system, with an equatorial radius of 2,439. Mercury is bright when it is visible from earth, ranging from. Archived from the original pdf on september 11, 2006. At a distance of only about of earths distance to sun, mercury is the first planet in our solar system. Jupiters moon ganymede and saturns moon titan are both larger than the closest planet to the sun. Mercury is the closest planet to the sun but, perhaps surprisingly, it does not have the highest temperatures. For every 2 orbits of the sun, which takes around 88 earth days, mercury completes three rotations of its axis.
It has a diameter of only 3,032 miles 4,879 km, around 40% of earths diameter. Go over some fun facts about the planet mercury with the questions in this quiz and worksheet. Mercury is the closest planet to the sun and is also the smallest of the eight planets in our solar system. Mercury planet mercury is the closest planet to the sun. It is an opportunistic planet, decidedly unemotional and curious.
Planet facts fun and interesting information about the nine. There are so many interesting facts about the first planet in our solar system. Planet worksheet planet fact sheet there are nine planets that travel around the sun. Okay we cant really take you there, but heres everything you need to know about this amazing planet. A blood test is the most accurate for a recent exposure, for example one that occurred less than a week earlier. Hermes was the swift messenger of the gods, and the planets name is. Our quiz provides a great opportunity to study this. Mercury is the closest planet to the sun, but venus is the hottest. Mercury is the closest planet to the sun and due to its proximity it is not easily seen except during twilight. The nine planets mercury is the closest planet to the sun. Mercury facts for kids interesting facts about planet mercury.
Mercury, the messenger of the gods, is the ruler of gemini and virgo. Mercury goes around the sun once every 88 earth days. At an incredible speed of 50 km per second 180,000 kmh, it is the fastest planet to travel through space. Mercury is also smaller albeit more massivethan the largest natural satellites in the solar system, ganymede and titan. Mercury is the smallest planet in the solar system. Okay this might shock youwe know that mercury is one seriously hot place, but there is another planet that is hotter. Dont panic when you peer from the porthole of your spaceship as it plummets to the surface of mercury.
The planet orbits the sun at an average distance of around 36 million miles 58 million km, compared with 93 million miles 150 million kilometers for earth. These views, based on data from nasas messenger spacecraft, show the planet s surface in stunning detail. Mercury mercury is the innermost and second smallest planet 4,878 kilometers 3,024 miles in diameter in the solar system 1 pluto is the smallest. As a matter of fact, there are two moons in the solar system that are larger than this planet. Mercury is the planet closest to the sun in our solar system and is a member of the family of terrestrial planets. In classical greece it was called apollo when it appeared as a morning star just before sunrise and hermes, the greek equivalent of the roman god mercury, when it appeared as an evening star just after sunset. Its generally moonlike appearance is illustrated in.
A day on mercury lasts a lot longer than a day on earth. Only slightly larger than the earths moon, mercurys surface is covered with craters. Unlike other planets, mercury has absolutely no moons, and thats because of its low gravity and no atmosphere. It was the first spacecraft to orbit mercury, providing pictures and data from all over the planet. Mercurys eccentric orbit takes the small planet as close as.
Mercury has no atmosphere and no known satellites, perhaps because of its proximity to the sun 4. The diameter of planet mercury is 4,878 km 3,031 miles. Mercury is the smallest planet in the solar system 2. Mercury facts interesting facts about planet mercury space facts. It is a terrestrial planet, which means it is an earthlike planet made up of rocks or metals and has a hard surface. Because mercury was the fastest planet as it moved around the sun, it is named after the roman deity mercury, the messenger of t. Astronomy for kids mercury mercury the winged messenger tiny mercury is the second smallest planet in our solar system, only pluto is smaller. It cannot be easily seen as it is usually too close to the sun.
The planet mercury is a bit larger than the earths moon. It is a poisonous metal, and the vapors of mercury are readily absorbed into the body through the respiratory tract, the digestive tract, and the skin. Oct 19, 2018 mercury is also the smallest planet in the solar system, measuring just 3,032 miles wide at its equator. The transit of mercury can be seen on 9 may 2016, 11 november 2019, and november 2032. Planet facts fun and interesting information about the. Computer simulated global view of venus this global. Mercury is even smaller than some of the largest moons in the solar system, such as ganymede and titan. Messenger was launched in 2004, flew past the planet twice in 2008 and once in 2009, and settled into orbit in 2011. Your weight on mercury would be 38% of your weight on earth. Because mercury was the fastest planet as it moved around the sun, it is named after the roman deity mercury, the messenger of the gods. Mercury fun facts cool kid facts fun facts for kids. However, it is very cold at night because the atmosphere of the planet cannot hold in the heat because it is too thin. Mercury reading comprehension worksheet answer key item 3016.
It zips around our sun at an average of 172,000 kilometers per hour 107,000 miles per hour about 65,000 kph 40,000 mph faster than earth. It is the second densest planet of the solar system, but also the smallest planet. Mercury is one of four inner planets in the solar system, and has a rocky body like the earth. Moons, asteroids, comets, and meteoroids are also part of our. Earlier, pluto held the record for being the smallest planet in the solar system. Mercury is the smallest and innermost planet in the solar system. Earth, mars, jupiter, saturn, uranus, neptune, and pluto. Together with the sun, these planets make up our solar system. Mercury is used in the manufacturing of mercury vapor lamps, which are used for street lighting. It mapped the entire surface of mercury before crashing into the planet in 2015. Mercury is usually hidden from our sight by the brightness of the sun. You havent taken a wrong turn and touched down on the moon.
Mercury is the fastestorbiting planet in our solar system. Mercury, venus, earth, mars, jupiter, saturn, uranus, neptune, and pluto the dwarf planet 2. The planet mercury will soon be at its best for skywatchers on earth. During the day, temperatures can reach a blistering 806 f 430 c, which is hot enough to melt lead.
Only slightly larger than the earths moon, mercury s surface is covered with craters. However, it has a greater mass than the largest moons in the solar system. It is the smallest planet in our solar system and the closest planet to the sun. That makes it only slightly larger than earths moon. Data from messengers scientific instruments have provided a. It is gravitationally locked and this rotation is unique to the solar system. Since the beginning of time, humans have been fascinated by the planets in outer space. With a diameter of only 4880 kilometers 3032 miles mercury is the smallest planet in the solar system. Because of its nearness to the sun, it is seven times hotter than on earth. Mercury is also the smallest planet in the solar system. Mercury facts information, history, location, size. Mercury is a small planet which orbits closer to the sun than any other planet in our solar system. Mercurys orbit around the sun is the fastest orbit of all the solar system planets.
Mercury facts interesting facts about planet mercury. The entire planet has now been imaged, revealing a surface that has been shaped both by extensive volcanism and impacts. The explanation for this resonant but asynchronous rotation of mercury. Mercury is the second hottest planet in the solar system, reaching up to 800 degrees. Mercury is the only metallic element that is a liquid at room temperature. These views, based on data from nasas messenger spacecraft, show the planets surface in stunning detail. Mercury orbits the sun in 88 days, which means 1 earth year on mercury is 88 days. A urine test is better for measuring mercury when the exposure has happened over a period of several weeks or more. The diameter of planet mercury is 4,878 km 3,031 miles 5. May transits when transits of mercury happen in may, the planet. It is a small world only slightly larger than earths moon. Mercury is sometimes called the evening star when it is near where the sun has set, or as a the morning star when it near where the sun will rise.
This collection of mercury facts includes atomic data, the electron configuration, chemical and physical properties, and history of the element. This discovery showed that the orbital and rotation periods are in fact in an exact 2. Apr 29, 2015 the planet mercury will soon be at its best for skywatchers on earth. Mercury facts for kids interesting facts about planet. Although mercury is close to the sun, the long night means some parts are very hot, and other parts are cold. It is named after the roman deity mercury, the messenger of the gods. It is the smallest planet in the solar system, with a radius of 2,439.
1315 1254 556 1347 448 1182 856 301 729 857 1523 1315 1224 1659 176 60 131 1533 54 29 1384 86 247 1632 1285 853 1149 1152 1154 969 1578 356 310 988 503 296 53 63 1131 468 848 682 615 1154