A Mystery of Space: S T A R S- [Mercury]

Mercury is the closest planet to the sun, and is therefore hot on the side facing the sun- up to 800° F. It is, though, a freezing -300° F on the side facing away from the sun. Mercury does not have a moon orbiting it, and does not have any type of atmosphere. The days on Mercury are longer than the years- a year on Mercury is only 88 earth days, but a day is 176 earth days (this means that it orbits the sun much faster than the planet rotates on its axis). The only spacecraft to travel to Mercury was Mariner 10, in 1974.

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Mercury Fact Sheet