| Diameter |
4,878
km / 3,031 miles |
| Average
distance from Sun |
57,900,000
km |
| Time
taken to orbit Sun |
88
days |
| Time
taken to turn on axis |
59
days |
| Surface
gravity (Earth = 1) |
0.38 |
| Atmosphere |
None |
| Average
surface temperature |
350°c
max -170°c min |
|
Mercury is the closest planet to the
Sun and has the most cratered surface of any planet in the Solar System.
Mercury's surface also appears to have shockwaves from a meteor impact.
There are two moons in the Solar System bigger than Mercury -
Ganymede which orbits Jupiter and Titan which orbits Saturn. In Roman
mythology, Mercury was the god of commerce, travel and thievery. Its Greek
name is Hermes, who was the messenger to the Gods. |
