Page 163 - DK Children's Encyclopedia

Mercury SEE ALSO

▸ ▸ Ancient Rome
p.20

Mercury is the smallest planet in the solar system. ▸ ▸ Asteroids p.30
Despite this, it can often be seen from Earth at sunrise ▸ ▸ Water pp.120–121
and sunset. The average temperature is a scorching ▸ ▸ Moon p.171

332°F (167°C) because this planet is closest to the sun. ▸ ▸ Solar system
p.233

▸ ▸ Sun p.247

Fast mover Mercury is a dry,
This planet takes its name rocky planet with
from the speedy Roman no liquid water.
messenger god. Mercury
moves faster across Earth’s
sky and faster around the
sun than the other planets.

Craters were made when
asteroids hit Mercury
billions of years ago.

Large solar Temperatures
panels kept on Mercury can soar
MESSENGER to 800°F (430°C)
working by
turning the in the day and drop to
sun’s rays –290°F (–180°C)
into electricity. at night.

Exploring Mercury
Between 2011 and 2015, the Tiny planet
robotic space probe MESSENGER Mercury is a very small
explored the surface of Mercury. planet. It is only slightly
The information collected bigger than Earth’s moon.
allowed scientists to make The planets Jupiter and
complete maps of Mercury Earth’s moon Saturn both have moons
for the first time. Mercury that are bigger than Mercury.

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