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Credit & Copyright: Mariner 10,
NASA
Explanation:
The planet Mercury resembles a moon. Mercury's old surface is heavily cratered like many moons.
Mercury is larger than most moons but smaller than
Jupiter's moon
Ganymede and
Saturn's moon
Titan.
Mercury is much denser and more massive than any moon,
though, because it is made mostly of iron. In fact, the
Earth is the only planet more dense.
A visitor to Mercury's surface
would see some strange sights.
Because
Mercury rotates
exactly three times every two orbits around the
Sun, and because
Mercury's orbit is so elliptical, a visitor to
Mercury might see the
Sun rise, stop in the sky, go back toward the rising
horizon,
stop again, and then set quickly over the
other horizon.
From Earth, Mercury's proximity to the
Sun cause it to be
visible only for a short time just after
sunset or just before sunrise.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Mercury - Solar System
Publications with words: Mercury - Solar System
See also: