Planet Mercury

Our solar system is unique in the galaxy and consists of 8 planets and 4 dwarf planets that orbit the Sun, all bound to it due to its gravitational pull. Since the dawn of the universe and the formation of our Sun these planets have formed around it and took their designated place, which have remained unchanged for millions of years.

Taking these planets in order from the Sun outwards, Mercury is the first planet and can be found closest to our star. Its name comes from the Greek god Hermes, the messenger of the gods, known as Mercury in Roman mythology. It could be seen since Roman times on morning and evening twilight. This little planet moves very quickly around the sun, making a year last only 88 days, but due to its very slow rotation around its axis the amount of time that passes from one sunrise to the next is of 176 Earth days.

Mercury is the smallest planet in the solar system, but has a density that only planet Earth surpasses. It has a large iron core that believed to be molten, a mantle and a crust, just like our planet. The core generates a magnetic field with the strength of only 1% compared to that of Earth. The surface of this planet made of rock and metal resembles that of the moon, consisting of cratered terrain, formed after comets and meteors hit. There are no natural satellites surrounding Mercury; which means Mercury has no moons.

Mercury will never be a planet able to sustain life. Though it does contain some water, it is completely frozen on the floor of craters at the planet’s poles, where sunlight can never reach it. Temperature ranges from -183 to 427 degrees Celsius, and the planet’s atmosphere is dry and very hot. Although it contains hydrogen, helium, oxygen, sodium, calcium and potassium, due to Mercury’s extreme temperature and proximity to the Sun the atmosphere is practically blasted off its surface all the time.

The planet was explored in the 1970s by the Mariner 10 and in the 2000s with the Messenger that has brought important information on the planet Mercury. NASA is already in possession of photos of planet Mercury, and is intending on furthering its research in the future.