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7.6: Planet Mercury

Last updated

Nov 20, 2024
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- 7.5: Craters
- 7.7: Planet Venus

Lumen Learning
Lumen Learning

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Mercury is the smallest and closest planet to the Sun. It is actually smaller than two of the Solar System’s moons—Ganymede (Jupiter) and Titan (Saturn). Because Mercury has no real atmosphere, it has extreme high and low temperatures. Examining the planet, Mercury looks a lot like the Moon.

Image of Mercury. — MercuryPublic Domain | Image courtesy of NASA / JPL-CALECH.

Planet Mercury at a Glance

Characteristic – Current State

Impact Craters – Yes
Tectonic Craters – Yes; not active
Volcanoes – Yes; not active
Atmosphere – No real atmosphere
Water – Yes; water and ice in craters at the poles
Erosion – No
Dunes – No
Polar Caps – No
Satellites – No
Life – Unknown

Image of Mercury's surface and craters. — Craters on MercurynCC BY 2. 0 | Image courtesy of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center from Greenbelt, MD, USA.

Planet Mercury at a Glance

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