Mercury

Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system and the closest to the Sun.

Its surface is covered with many craters that formed billions of years ago, which remain unchanged due to the absence of an atmosphere.

This lack of atmosphere and closeness to the Sun causes extreme surface temperatures on the planet, ranging from 800°F in the direct sun to –290°F on the dark side.

It takes only 88 Earth days to orbit the Sun. However, its rotation is so slow that one full day lasts 176 Earth days, meaning a day is twice as long as a year.

Since its axis is tilted by only 2 degrees, sunlight cannot reach the poles, leaving them in permanent shadow.

Scientists believe a massive liquid metallic core that takes up 85% of Mercury’s volume lies inside this planet. There might even be a solid inner core.

We have gathered information about this planet through missions like Mariner 10 and Messenger. Messenger alone captured over 200,000 images, revealing incredible details about this planet.