Mercury is the smallest planet in the Solar System and also the closest one to the Sun. With an orbital period of approximately 88 Earth days, it is much faster than the other planets in the Solar System. From Earth, it is observed that Mercury completes its full orbit around the Sun in 116 Earth days. It has no known natural satellites.
Mercury is named after the Roman god Mercury, known as the messenger of the gods. Due to the lack of an atmosphere that can retain heat, Mercury's surface temperature changes much more daily than any other planet in the Solar System. In some equatorial regions, the temperature ranges from 100°K (-173°C; -280°F) at night to 700°K (427°C; 800°F) during the day. The poles remain constantly below 180°K (-93°C; -136°F). Mercury's axial tilt is the smallest of any planet in the Solar System. Additionally, Mercury's orbital eccentricity is greater than that of any known planet in the Solar System.
Characteristics of the Planet Mercury
While Mercury has few features, its key characteristics are as follows:
Mercury has many features. First of all, although Mercury is larger than the Moon in appearance, it is known as the smallest planet in the Solar System. The planet's color is dark gray. Covered by a layer of dust, Mercury is also a rocky planet that is gradually shrinking. Mercury's core is also liquid. This core cools and solidifies over time, causing the planet to shrink.
The atmosphere on Mercury is minimal, almost non-existent. Therefore, it is vulnerable to all external impacts. The lack of an atmosphere and the planet's vulnerability to external threats are also indications that there is no life on Mercury.
The formation of Mercury and its current structure is thought to have occurred over a 3.5 billion-year process, and it is believed that Mercury’s formation is the result of planetesimal accumulation and volcanic activity. When these volcanic eruptions ended, Mercury took its current form.
Mercury has three layers: the crust, the mantle, and the core. The gravity of Mercury is about 38% of Earth’s. Due to its proximity to the Sun, the temperature on Mercury is extremely high, indicating that life is not possible on this planet.
The lowest temperature on Mercury is said to be -180°C, while the highest temperature reaches 430°C. The average temperature is around 167°C. These temperature variations are due to Mercury's inability to regulate the solar radiation it receives because of its proximity and distance from the Sun. Although the most accurate information about Mercury was obtained from the Messenger spacecraft’s research in 2008, studies are still ongoing.
Orhan Açıkgöz
Yücel Cultural Foundation
Voluntary Author
YKV Content:1576