Mercury

Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun.

Distance from the Sun: about 58 million kilometres

Time taken to orbit the Sun: 88 days

Mercury has no satellites.

Mercury is made of iron.

What is it like on Mercury?
Dry and extremely hot during the day, freezing at night.
The surface is full of craters.

To astronomers in Ancient Greece this planet was known as Apollo when seen in the morning, and Hermes when seen in the evening. The planet was later named Mercury after the Roman messenger God.

The American spacecraft, Mariner 10, flew by the planet three times in 1974 and 1975.
About 45 percent of the surface has been mapped.

kidcyber has selected these for more information about this planet
http://www.solarsystem.org.uk/mercury/
http://www.dustbunny.com/afk/planets/mercury/

If you use any part of this in your own work, acknowledge this source in your bibliography like this:
Thomas, R. & Sydenham, S. Mercury [Online] www.kidcyber.com.au(2007)

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Updated March 2009 © www.kidcyber.com.au