Admin Why does Mercury have such extreme temperatures relative to those on earth?
Why might Mercury have such extreme temperatures relative to those on Earth? Mercury has no true atmosphere and is the closest planet to the Sun. These two factors combine to generate the extreme temperatures measured on the surface of the planet. Other than Earth, Mars is probably the best studied planet.
Why is Mercury most similar to Earth?
Much like Earth, Mercury is a terrestrial planet, which means it is composed of silicate minerals and metals that are differentiated between a solid metal core and a silicate crust and mantle. For Mercury, the breakdown of these elements is higher than Earth.
How does Mercury’s temperature compared to Earth?
The day side of the planet reaches temperatures of up to 800 degrees Fahrenheit (427 degrees Celsius). In contrast, the chilly night side can get as cold as minus 290 F (minus 180 C). The planet has an average temperature of 332 F (167 C).
What causes the extremely high temperatures on the surface of Venus?
Venus is so hot because it is surrounded by a very thick atmosphere which is about 100 times more massive than our atmosphere here on Earth. As sunlight passes through the atmosphere, it heats up the surface of Venus. The heat becomes trapped and builds up to extremely high temperatures.
What are the similarities of the Mercury Venus Earth and Mars?
The four inner planets — Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars — share several features in common. Astronomers call them the “terrestrial planets” because they have solid, rocky surfaces roughly similar to desert and mountainous areas on the earth.
Why is Mercury considered to be an extreme planet?
Mercury does not have many storms even though you would think so since Mercury is considered to be an extreme planet. Mercury is considered to be a rocky planet. Its temperature changes drastically which is why Mercury is considered to be an extreme planet and not because it has severe storms.
What’s the temperature on the planet Mercury during the day?
Answer: On Mercury temperatures can get as hot as 430 degrees Celsius during the day and as cold as -180 degrees Celsius at night. Mercury is the planet in our solar system that sits closest to the sun.
Why does Mercury have a very thin atmosphere?
The other reason is that Mercury has a very thin and unstable atmosphere. At a size about a third of the earth and with a mass (what we on earth see as ‘weight’) that is 0.05 times as much as the earth, Mercury just doesn’t have the gravity to keep gases trapped around it, creating an atmosphere.
Is the side of Mercury facing the Sun cold or hot?
The side of Mercury facing the sun is very hot, about 800° Fahrenheit! But the dark side gets very cold, about –280° Fahrenheit, with no sun to warm it and no atmosphere to hold in the heat.