Mercury

By: Cassie, Sara,

Corey, and Josh H.

Mercury is the hottest little planet around!

Quick Facts:

• The fastest moving planet in our Solar System. • Distance form the sun: 35, 983,095 miles• Length of year: 88 days• Length of day: 1,407 hours, 30 minutes • Min/Max temp: -280 degrees F to 800

degrees F

Information:

• Mercury can be seen from Earth only 13 times a century.

• Mercury’s surface is similar to the surface of Earth’s moon, there are many craters caused by collisions from meteoroids and comets.

• Mercury is the second smallest planet. Also, the second densest.

• It possesses a thin exosphere, not an atmosphere.• It’s magnetic field is thought to be a miniature version

of Earth’s, but scientists are unsure about it’s strength.

Information Continued:

• Only one spaceship has ever been to Mercury, Mariner 10, it took the first pictures of Mercury.

• It’s iron core is roughly 2,200 to 2,400 miles wide.

• It’s outer silicate shell is about 300 to 400 miles thick.

• Mercury doesn’t have a moon.

Video Clip:

This is a short informational video on Mercury. Enjoy!

Quiz:

1. What is the length of a year on Mercury?A) 45B) 37C) 88D) 190

Quiz:

2. It possesses a thin ________, not a atmosphere.

A) HemisphereB) ExosphereC) TroposphereD) Stratosphere

Quiz:

3. What was the name of the only spaceship that went to Mercury?

A) ChallengerB) Voyager 1C) Apollo 13D) Mariner 10

Quiz:

4. How many times can Mercury be seen in a century?

A)13B) 5C) 22D) 19

Quiz:

5. Roughly, how many miles thick is Mercury’s iron core?

A) 1,000 to 1, 500 B) 2,200 to 2,400C) 3,400 to 4,000D) 500 to 600

Answer Key:

1. C, 882. B, exosphere3. D, Mariner 104. A, 135. B, 2,200 to 2,400

Works Citied • orrerydesign.blogspot.com • http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/mercury/features.html • http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/space/solar-

system/mercury-article/ • http://www.elementalreiki.com/node/576 • http://maclarizaceo.blogspot.com/2012/09/mercury-planet.html• http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2008/01/messages-

from-m.html • http://kfox95.com/micky-mouse-spotted-on-the-surface-of-

mercury-photo/ • http://wallpapers-haziq.blogspot.com/2011/12/9-known-

planets.html • http://www.space.com/36-mercury-the-suns-closest-planetary-

neighbor.html