By Anthony MulgadoBy Anthony Mulgadoand and

Danny Nunez Danny Nunez

Mercury's HistoryMercury's History• Mercury is the planet nearest the Sun.Mercury is the planet nearest the Sun.• Mercury looks like the moon at first Mercury looks like the moon at first

glance and looks crescent.glance and looks crescent. • Mercury is very similar to our moon it Mercury is very similar to our moon it

has an internal magnetic field and has an internal magnetic field and there is evidence that it has shrunk in there is evidence that it has shrunk in size since it formed.size since it formed.

Rotation and RevolutionRotation and Revolution• Mercury takes 88 Earth days to Mercury takes 88 Earth days to

orbit the sun.orbit the sun. • The rotation of its axis isThe rotation of its axis is 59 59

Earth days.Earth days.

Distance from the Sun Distance from the Sun and Earthand Earth

• Mercury's distance from the sun Mercury's distance from the sun is 36 million miles (57.9 million is 36 million miles (57.9 million km)km)

Size and DensitySize and Density• Mercury's core is 75% of Mercury by Mercury's core is 75% of Mercury by

volume and 80% of it by its mass.volume and 80% of it by its mass.• Mercury’s density is 5.427 grams per cubic Mercury’s density is 5.427 grams per cubic

centimeter. So, an average chunk of centimeter. So, an average chunk of Mercury 1 cm square would weigh 5.427 Mercury 1 cm square would weigh 5.427 grams. grams.

• The suns diameter is 285 times greater The suns diameter is 285 times greater than Mercury's.than Mercury's.

• Mercury is also very small it is only 40% Mercury is also very small it is only 40% larger than our moon.larger than our moon.

Temperature Temperature – The side towards the sun is at a hot The side towards the sun is at a hot

temperature of 350 °C (662 °F), while temperature of 350 °C (662 °F), while the night side is a cold -180 °C (-292 the night side is a cold -180 °C (-292 °F).°F).

Composition Composition • Mercury composition is made up of Mercury composition is made up of

approximately 70% metals approximately 70% metals • 30% of it is silicate material.30% of it is silicate material.• In fact, it’s only a little bit less dense In fact, it’s only a little bit less dense

than the Earth, with 5.43 g/cm3. than the Earth, with 5.43 g/cm3.

AtmosphereAtmosphere• There is a There is a veryvery thin atmosphere around thin atmosphere around

the planet. the planet.

• Mercury has almost no atmosphere .Mercury has almost no atmosphere .• Because it is so small its gravity is so weakBecause it is so small its gravity is so weak• Mercury's thin atmosphere contains Mercury's thin atmosphere contains

hydrogen, helium, and oxygen.hydrogen, helium, and oxygen.• It also has smaller amounts of sodium, It also has smaller amounts of sodium,

potassium, calcium, and magnesium .potassium, calcium, and magnesium .

• Mercury is one of the only planets to not have a Mercury is one of the only planets to not have a moon.moon.

• The Earth got its moon when a Mars-sized object The Earth got its moon when a Mars-sized object crashed into our planet, and the debris collected crashed into our planet, and the debris collected into the Moon. It’s possible that the same thing into the Moon. It’s possible that the same thing happened to Mercury early on in its history. But the happened to Mercury early on in its history. But the moon would have either drifted away or crashed moon would have either drifted away or crashed back down onto the surface, because it’s not there back down onto the surface, because it’s not there anymore.anymore.

• Even Pluto the smallest planet has moons but not Even Pluto the smallest planet has moons but not Mercury.Mercury.

• Scientists believe that mercury might not have any Scientists believe that mercury might not have any satellites because of how close to the sun it is.satellites because of how close to the sun it is.

MoonsMoons

Physical characteristics Physical characteristics • Mercury is the smallest planet.Mercury is the smallest planet.• Mercury looks very similar to the moon in how Mercury looks very similar to the moon in how

we see it and its size we can only see little we see it and its size we can only see little pieces of mercury and it looks similar to the sunpieces of mercury and it looks similar to the sun

• Mercury is also only 40 percent larger than the Mercury is also only 40 percent larger than the moon.moon.

• Mercury with a diameter of 1,300 km Mercury with a diameter of 1,300 km • It is the smallest planet and has very little It is the smallest planet and has very little

atmosphere because of how close to the sun it atmosphere because of how close to the sun it isis

What it would be like to go What it would be like to go therethere• If you went to mercury you would be If you went to mercury you would be

burning of how hot it is, or freezing if burning of how hot it is, or freezing if you were on the night side.you were on the night side.

• You would feel as if you were on the You would feel as if you were on the moon because of how it looks like it.moon because of how it looks like it.

• Also, you it would be hard for you to Also, you it would be hard for you to breath.breath.

what would life on the what would life on the planet look like?planet look like?

• You would feel like you were on the You would feel like you were on the moon.moon.

• If there was like there they would If there was like there they would need to wear protective gear so they need to wear protective gear so they would not burn or freeze so you would not burn or freeze so you would see people with the gear.would see people with the gear.

Extra historyExtra history• Two-fifths the size of Earth in Two-fifths the size of Earth in

diameter; second smallest planet diameter; second smallest planet in the solar systemin the solar system..

• The planet was named for the The planet was named for the Roman god Mercury, a winged Roman god Mercury, a winged messenger, and it travels around messenger, and it travels around the Sun faster than any other the Sun faster than any other planetplanet

Mercury FactsMercury Facts

• If you weigh 100 pounds on Earth, you If you weigh 100 pounds on Earth, you would weigh 38 pounds on Mercury.would weigh 38 pounds on Mercury.

• Covered by a dusty layer of minerals Covered by a dusty layer of minerals (silicates), the surface is made up of plains, (silicates), the surface is made up of plains, cliffs, and craters.cliffs, and craters.

• The diameter isThe diameter is 3,032.4 miles (4,880 km)3,032.4 miles (4,880 km)

  

How do we know what mercury How do we know what mercury looks like?looks like?

• Mercury is difficult to see from Earth, Mercury is difficult to see from Earth, even the famous astronomer Nicolaus even the famous astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, for all his years of Copernicus, for all his years of research and observation, never once research and observation, never once was able to see Mercury. was able to see Mercury.

• Scientist do not know what is looks Scientist do not know what is looks like for sure but on the scientific like for sure but on the scientific research and investigations they research and investigations they concluded what it looks like.concluded what it looks like.