Mercury is an interesting planet in our solar system, and there are many fun facts about this planet that kids might find fascinating. Here are some of the top facts about Mercury that you can share with your children.
1. Mercury is the Closest Planet to the Sun
When you ask children which planet is closest to the sun, most will probably answer “Earth.” However, this is not true! Mercury is actually the closest planet to the sun in our solar system. This fact is interesting because it means that Mercury is bombarded with more solar radiation than any other planet in our solar system.
2. Mercury has No Atmosphere
Unlike other planets in our solar system, Mercury does not have an atmosphere. This means that the planet does not have weather like we do here on Earth. It also means that the planet doesn’t have the protective layer that Earth’s atmosphere provides, so it is important for astronauts who may visit Mercury to wear protective suits.
3. Mercury has Very Hot and Very Cold Temperatures
Mercury’s proximity to the sun causes it to experience extremely hot temperatures during the day (up to 800 degrees Fahrenheit!). However, because the planet has no atmosphere, temperatures on the surface can drop to as low as -290 degrees Fahrenheit at night.
4. Mercury has Many Craters
Mercury is covered with numerous craters, which were formed by asteroids hitting the planet’s surface. Some of these craters are very large, and the largest one on Mercury is called “The Caloris Basin.” This crater is about 950 miles across!
5. Mercury has a Slow Rotation
One day on Mercury is much longer than one day on Earth. In fact, it takes Mercury about 59 Earth days to complete one rotation on its axis. However, because Mercury orbits around the sun so fast, one year on Mercury (how long it takes for the planet to orbit the sun one time) is only about 88 Earth days long.
There are many other interesting facts about Mercury, but these are just a few that kids might find particularly exciting. When learning about our solar system, it’s always fun to explore the unique traits and characteristics of each planet!
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1. Mercury is the Closest Planet to the Sun
When you ask children which planet is closest to the sun, most will probably answer “Earth.” However, this is not true! Mercury is actually the closest planet to the sun in our solar system. This fact is interesting because it means that Mercury is bombarded with more solar radiation than any other planet in our solar system.
2. Mercury has No Atmosphere
Unlike other planets in our solar system, Mercury does not have an atmosphere. This means that the planet does not have weather like we do here on Earth. It also means that the planet doesn’t have the protective layer that Earth’s atmosphere provides, so it is important for astronauts who may visit Mercury to wear protective suits.
3. Mercury has Very Hot and Very Cold Temperatures
Mercury’s proximity to the sun causes it to experience extremely hot temperatures during the day (up to 800 degrees Fahrenheit!). However, because the planet has no atmosphere, temperatures on the surface can drop to as low as -290 degrees Fahrenheit at night.
4. Mercury has Many Craters
Mercury is covered with numerous craters, which were formed by asteroids hitting the planet’s surface. Some of these craters are very large, and the largest one on Mercury is called “The Caloris Basin.” This crater is about 950 miles across!
5. Mercury has a Slow Rotation
One day on Mercury is much longer than one day on Earth. In fact, it takes Mercury about 59 Earth days to complete one rotation on its axis. However, because Mercury orbits around the sun so fast, one year on Mercury (how long it takes for the planet to orbit the sun one time) is only about 88 Earth days long.
There are many other interesting facts about Mercury, but these are just a few that kids might find particularly exciting. When learning about our solar system, it’s always fun to explore the unique traits and characteristics of each planet!
The post appeared first on .