MERCURY
MERCURY
Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun. In the northern hemisphere of the planet, is Carnegie Rupes, a long steep faced ridge. In places, it is about 2 kilometres (1.4 miles) high. Here the Rupes can be seen slicing through the centre of a crater.
Image credit: MESSENGER, NASA.
Abedin crater, contains its own mountain range in its centre.
Image credit: MESSENGER, NASA
Mercury Facts
Diameter: 4,879 kilometres, or 3,032 miles
Rotation period (day): 58.6 Earth days
Orbital period (year): 87.969 Earth days.
Minimum temperature: -180 degrees Celsius, or -290 degrees Fahrenheit
Maximum temperature: 430 degrees Celsius, or 800 degrees Fahrenheit
Closest approach to the Sun (Perihelion): 46,001,200 kilometres (46 million, 1 thousand, 200 kilometres), or 28,600,000 miles (28 million, 600 thousand miles)
Furthest distance from the Sun (Aphelion): 69,816,900 kilometres (69 million, 816 thousand, 900 kilometres), or 43,400,000 miles (43 million, 400 thousand miles)
Missions to Mercury: Mariner 10 (NASA, 1973); MESSENGER (NASA, 2004); BepiColombo (ESA, JAXA, scheduled to launch in October 2018)
View of Mercury from orbit.
Image credit: MESSENGER, NASA.
