Earth is the 5th largest planet in the solar system, which makes earth the 4th smallest planet in the solar system. January 25, 2007 exploring a new frontier, the dawn mission will journey back in time over 4. This is a research project for introducing planets. There are so many interesting facts about the first planet in our solar system. The eight planets in order starting closest to the sun are. Dec 21, 2009 the following pluto fact sheet is based on nasas excellent planetary fact sheets. Facts concerning the solar system stony brook university. The final mission in the series, mariner 10, flew past venus before going on to encounter mercury, after which it returned to mercury for. The diameter of planet mercury is 4,878 km 3,031 miles 5. See the fact file below for more information about key solar system planets or alternatively download our comprehensive worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Mercury has no atmosphere and no known satellites, perhaps because of its proximity to the sun 4. The planets are in motion and travel around the sun in oval shaped paths called orbits. As a matter of fact, there are two moons in the solar system that are larger than this planet. The diameter of planet mercury is 4,878 km 3,031 miles. The final mission in the series, mariner 10, flew past venus before going on to encounter mercury, after which it returned to mercury for a total of three flybys. The suns rays are about seven times stronger than on earth. The atmosphere of venus is made up mostly of carbon dioxide.
Among the eight planets in the solar system, mercury is the closest to the sun and has a lot of significant information that can be collected. Other bodies in the solar system major moons moon revolves around distance from planet km diameter km your weight on moon atmosphere larger than mercury moon earth 384,000 3,500. Earth is one of the four planets in the solar system that is a rocky planet. There are eight planets in the solar system, but there used to be nine. After the earth, mercury is the second densest planet. Mercury is the second hottest planet in the solar system, reaching up to 800 degrees. The planets all revolve in the same direction about the sun. Mercury s orbit around the sun is the fastest orbit of all the solar system planets. Planet fact sheet the inner or terrestrial planets mercury, venus, earth and mars share certain characteristics. This plane is roughly the same as the rotational equator of the sun. Mercury facts interesting facts about planet mercury.
Jupiters moon ganymede and saturns moon titan are both larger than the closest planet to the sun. These rocky planets are called terrestrial planets we know that the earth was formed about 4. Out of all the planets mars has fairly calm conditions, without raging storms and all sorts. Facts concerning the solar system all the planets roughly orbit the sun in a plane. But, insight is more than a mars mission it is a terrestrial planet explorer that will. Although it does have some fairly hectic dust storms, which change its surface all the time.
Mercury is the smallest planet in the solar system with a diameter of 4,879 km and is one of five planets that is visible to the naked eye. Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system. Because mercury was the fastest planet as it moved around the sun, it is named after the roman deity mercury, the messenger of t. Mercury is the smallest planet in the solar system. Mars fact sheet fourth planet from the sun distance from the sun. The first visit to mercury was a flyby made by the mariner 10 spacecraft in 1974. Despite being the smallest terrestrial planet from the solar system, and in fact the smallest of all the planets, it is the second densest planet in the solar system, with a density of 5. Mercury travels around the sun more quickly than any of the other planets in the solar system. For every two orbits of the sun, mercury completes three rotations about its axis and up until 1965 it was thought that the same side of mercury constantly faced the sun. Okay we cant really take you there, but heres everything you need to know about this amazing planet.
It was the first spacecraft to orbit mercury, providing pictures and data from all over the planet. The nine planets mercury is the closest planet to the sun mercury has no water. The explanation for this resonant but asynchronous rotation of mercury was. Shepards flight had been overshadowed by russian yuri gagarins orbital mission just three weeks earlier. All about mercury nasa space place nasa science for kids. Although mercury is close to the sun, the long night means some parts are. Even the best sunscreen wouldnt be enough on mercury. Mercury fun facts cool kid facts fun facts for kids. Planet facts for kids science for kids fun facts to learn. Project mercury thirtyfive years ago on may 5, 1961, alan shepard was propelled into space aboard the mercury capsule freedom 7.
It is gravitationally locked and this rotation is unique to the solar system. Mercury may be the closest planet to the sun but it experiences temperature changes that are the most extreme of any planet in the solar system, including dropping to 275 f170 c. A printable pdf booklet with images of each planet which can. Mercury is only slightly larger than the earths moon. When mariner 10 took pictures of mercury during its flyby of venus and mercury in november 1973, scientists discovered that mercury is the most cratered planet in the solar system with a surface similar to earths moon. Computer simulated global view of venus this global. The planets and dwarf planets are listed in their order from the sun. Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system only. Categories astronomy, guide to space tags fact sheet, planet, solar system, the planets post navigation.
Earth, mars, jupiter, saturn, uranus, neptune, and pluto. Index of planetary fact sheets more detailed fact sheets for each planet. Mercury is the smallest planet in the solar system 2. The 10 questions can be answered by either exploring websites or having the students recall prior knowl. The daytime temperature on mercury can reach up to 400. Its 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. Mercury facts interesting facts about planet mercury space facts. Astronomy for kids mercury mercury the winged messenger tiny mercury is the second smallest planet in our solar system, only pluto is smaller. There is a ninth called pluto but this has been classified as a dwarf planet. Planetary fact cards science year 5 earth and space the planets lesson 2 mercury 1 st planet from the sun assyrian astronomers 1400 bc roman god of messengers 173c out of sunlight to 420c in sunlight grey iron and rock 0 88 there are wrinkles on the surface which are called lobate scarps.
Jun 29, 2012 a printable pdf booklet with images of each planet which can be used to make a solar system mobile. Mercury hg is an element that has existed and will continue to exist naturally since the earth was formed 4. Resources have fun teaching, solar system lessons, mercury. Except for mercury all have at least a thin atmosphere they are called terrestrial planets because of their resemblance to earth. Its very similar in size to earth, but very different in lots of other ways. Project mercury included the first earth orbital flight made by an american, john glenn in february 1962. Mercurys orbit around the sun is the fastest orbit of all the solar system planets. Mars science laboratory launch nuclear safety pdf 259 kb mars science laboratory radiological contingency planning pdf 55. They have solid sur faces but, unlike the terrestrial planets, a signiicant.
Prehistoric distance from earth minimum 10 6 km 77. Mercury is the closest planet to the sun and due to its proximity it is not easily seen except during twilight. Oct 07, 2018 this is a research project for introducing planets. Mercury has no atmosphere and no known satellites, perhaps because of its proximity to the sun.
His 15minute suborbital flight was part of project mercury, the united states first maninspace program. With these 33 facts about mercury, lets learn more about it facts about its characteristics and composition. The following pluto fact sheet is based on nasas excellent planetary fact sheets. Pluto and its largest moon, charon, belong to a third category known as ice dwarfs. Mercurys daytime temperature reaches 400 degrees celsius. Ten facts about mercury bob the aliens tour of the solar. It is the closest planet to the sun, but its actually not the hottest. Despite its small size, mercury is very dense because it is composed mainly of heavy metals and rock the main characteristic of terrestrial planets. Jan 01, 2000 radioisotope heater units fact sheet radioisotope heater units fact sheet saturn will be visible in clear skies during cassinis final plunge into saturn on sept.
It is the smallest planet in our solar system and the closest planet to the sun. Mercury venus earth moon mars jupiter saturn uranus neptune pluto mass 1024kg, 0. The core at mercurys center is mostly made up of iron and takes up about 75% of the planets radius. Planet fact sheet there are nine planets that travel around the sun. A printable pdf booklet with images of each planet which. Before the first spacecrafts flew to mercury to take pictures of its surface, some astronomers believed that the planet would have a smooth surface. For every 2 orbits of the sun, which takes around 88 earth days, mercury completes three rotations of its axis. The oceans alone contain millions of tons of mercury. The planet mercury is a bit larger than the earths moon. Radioisotope heater units fact sheet radioisotope heater units fact sheet saturn will be visible in clear skies during cassinis final plunge into saturn on sept. The planets and solar system grades 9 12 solar system facts. This discovery showed that the orbital and rotation periods are in fact in an exact 2. However, it has a greater mass than the largest moons in the solar system. This is a fact sheet that is made up of multiple choice questions, true and false and fill in the blank.
Mercury is even smaller than some of the largest moons in the solar system, such as ganymede and titan. For a comparison, mercurys size is about a third of earth, and earth has a density of 5. Along with venus, earth, and mars, mercury is one of the rocky planets. Most planets have at least one moon of their own, and the giant planets have dozens. Learn about the order of the planets, terrestrial planets, gas giants and. In addition to the eight major planets, there is a lot of debris in the solar system. There are ten questions that can be used to assess a students knowledge about the planets. Mercury is one of four inner planets in the solar system, and has a rocky body like the earth. Students will record the order of the planet, color, number of moons, and three important facts. It is the smallest planet in the solar system, with a radius of 2,439.
Mercury is the smallest and innermost planet in the solar system. Only mercury and venus, the two planets closest to the sun, are moonless. Schoolyard solar system demonstration scale model of the solar system for the classroom. Mercury is closest to the sun as compared to other planets order of the planets from the sun. Mercury by cynthia sherwood mercury is the planet nearest the sun. However, it has a greater mass than the largest moons in. Mercury is the closest planet to the sun and is also the smallest of the eight planets in our solar system. The entire planet has now been imaged, revealing a surface that has been shaped both by extensive volcanism and impacts.
This bundle includes fact sheets for each of the 8 major planets in the solar system and a planet research worksheet. Together with the sun, these planets make up our solar system. It is a terrestrial planet, which means it is an earthlike planet made up of rocks or metals and has a hard surface. Encourage your students to research and record important facts about each planet using these planet fact sheets. Which side of the planet is the sun on in this photo.
Dolan mazda dolan auto group used 2015 mazda mazda3 4 blue, 23,839 in s16,791 9475 south virginia st o reno. Thirteen times a century mercury can be observed from the earth passing across the face of the sun in an event. Notes on the fact sheets explanations of the values and headings in the fact sheet. The sun and the planets, with the exception of venus and uranus, rotate on their. Mercury can also get as low as 270 degrees at its night. It is 1,000 degrees fahrenheit hotter on its daytime side than on its night time side. Planets, asteroids, and comets are also part of the solar system. Mercury facts for kids interesting facts about planet. Mercury orbits the sun in 88 days, which means 1 earth year on mercury is 88 days.
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