Mercury is the planet nearest the sun. It’s so close that if you were standing on Mercury, the sun would appear two and a half times bigger than what it looks like from here on Earth. Even the best sunscreen wouldn’t be enough on Mercury. The sun’s rays are about seven times stronger than on Earth.
Mercury is dry, very hot, and airless. Mercury is also the smallest planet in our solar system. Because it’s often blocked by the sun, Mercury can be hard to see without a telescope.
Mercury is named after a Roman god who was a messenger known for his speed. As a planet, Mercury moves around the sun faster than any other. It revolves around the sun about once every 88 Earth days. Mercury is made up of rock with iron at its core.
It's surface looks a lot like our moon, with many craters. They may contain frozen water or ice. Scientists couldn’t believe it at first. Parts of Mercury reach 800 degrees, so they definitely didn’t expect to find ice! But it turns out the poles of Mercury are always in the shade of the sun, so they remain extremely cold.
By the way, you’d never be able to enjoy a blue sky on Mercury, because there’s no atmosphere, the sky always appears black. You might even see stars—during the daytime!
1. Why is Mercury usually hard to see without a telescope?
2. Is Mercury hot? Explain your answer.
3. Mercury was named after the Roman god of speed. Why is this a suitable name for the planet?
4. Do you think humans can live on Mercury? Give a reason for your answer.
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