- smallest planet in the Solar System
- Even though the planet is small, Mercury is very dense. Each cubic centimetre has a density of 5.4 grams, with only the Earth having a higher density. This is largely due to Mercury being composed mainly of heavy metals and rock
- As the iron core of the planet cooled and contracted, the surface of the planet became wrinkled. Scientist have named these wrinkles, Lobate Scarps. These Scarps can be up to a mile high and hundreds of miles long.
- mercury is the second hottest planet
- the surface of Mercury is covered in craters. These are caused by numerous encounters with asteroids and comets
- Every seven years or so, Mercury can be seen from Earth passing across the face of the Sun. This happens because Mercury’s orbit is inclined by 7 degrees to the plane of Earth’s orbit and its known as a transit. The next transit of Mercury is on May 9, 2016 and will be visible from Europe after noon.
- Mercury orbits so quickly around the Sun that early civilizations believed it was actually two different stars
- Mercury is named after the messenger of the Roman gods, who is also known as Hermes in Greek mythology. This is because of the speed in which Mercury orbits the Sun and the speed with which Mercury the Roman deity was able to deliver messages
- Mercury has no moons or rings because of its low gravity and lack of atmosphere.
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