Description
Size:
The planet Mercury is a comparatively small planet for the solar system with a
mass of 0.3302×1024 kg and an average diameter of 4,879.4 km. Mercury is roughly 38% the
size of the planet Earth.
Orbital Characteristics:
The planet Mercury obits the Sun at a mean speed of 47.87 km/s. At this velocity
it takes this planet 88 Earth days to complete one revolution around the Sun. One
day on Mercury lasts 4222.6 hours.
Distance from Earth:
Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun and the third closest planet
Earth. During its orbit around the sun, its maximum distance
from the planet Earth is 221,920,880 km and its minimum distance
is 77,269,900 km.
Brightness:
Mercury is a relatively bright planet with a
brightness rating of -0.42 V(1,0) and a solar irradiance of 9126.6 W/m2.
Atmosphere:
Mercury has a relatively thick atmosphere with a mean density
of 5,427 kg/m3 and an average pressure
of ~10-15 bar. It is composed of
the elements Oxygen (42%), Sodium (29%), Hydrogen (22%), Helium (6%), Potassium (0.5%), and other trace elements.
The mean temperature of the planet Mercury is 167 degrees Celsius.
Satellites:
Mercury has no moons.
