The Closest Planet to the Sun – Exploring the Inner Solar System
As any science enthusiast is already aware, our sun is the star at the center of our solar system. Our solar system consists of rounded bodies of dust and gases, known as planets, which orbit around the sun in a giant elliptical path. Among these planets is one that is closest to the sun and always remains in the inner section of our solar system. This planet is called Mercury.
The Fascinating Facts about Mercury
Mercury is the smallest planet in the solar system and also has the fastest orbital speed of all the planets, taking just 88 days to complete one orbit around the sun. Despite its small size, it is dense, composed of 71% iron core, 22% silicate mantle, and 7% crust. Mercury sometimes set off a spectacular display in Earth’s sky that’s known as the Transit of Mercury, when it passes directly in front of the sun and looks like a black dot across the sun. In addition, its entire circle of craters was made using a combination of contaminants such as oxygen, magnesium and iron, which were also dated back to centuries ago.
Exploring Mercury’s Mysteries
Since Mercury is so close to the sun, it is difficult for scientists to observe it. After 15 years of planning and preparation, Mariner 9, which was the first spacecraft to be able to reach Mercury and take detailed photographs of the planet’s surface, was launched from Earth in the summer of 1973. Through Mariner 9’s mission and those of other probes, what was being learned about Mercury was coming to light piece by piece. It was being discovered that Mercury’s sun-facing side changes temperatures by hundreds of degrees in a short time, and its axis of rotation is both highly elongated and fixated relative to its orbit, just like that of a toy top.
Today’s advancements in astronomy has provided us with incredible opportunities to further explore Mercury, its fascinating characteristics, and its mysteries. With the discoveries that are yet to be made, the solar system is sure to teach us many more valuable lessons.
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