Mercury

​ MERCURY

MERCURY PHOTS AND LINKS

Atmosphere of Mercury
Mercury Atmoshphere


 * || [[image:http://www.windows.ucar.edu/mercury/images/antoniad_crop_s.gif align="left" link="http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/mercury/Atmosphere/antoniad_Image.html"]]

Click on image for full size version (**459K GIF**) //Image from: NASA//
|| So far, Mercury from ground-based observers and the [|Mariner 10] spacecraft have not shown evidence of a the atmosphere compared to other planets. Mariner 10 did observe a tiny amount of helium 1000 km above the surface, but this is probably caused by the solar wind and the breakdown of Mercury's crust. Sodium, potassium and oxygen have also been detected in Mercury's very weak atmosphere, but these elements are lost when they react with the Sun and Mercury's magnetic field. Temperatures on the surface range is between -300 and 800oF (hot enough to melt metal ). This large range in surface temperature is possible because Mercury is so close to the Sun (a year is only 88 Earth days long) and does not have sufficient atmosphere present to moderate the range in surface temperature.
 * Take a tour to the beautiful Mercury. Named after the Roman god of commerce, travel and thievery, Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun and the eighth largest.

Take a tour to the beautiful Mercury. Named after the Roman god of commerce, travel and thievery, Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun and the eighth largest. It can only be seen in morning or evening twilight so the Greeks gave it two names, Apollo for when it appeared as a morning star and Hermes when it came as an evening star. Launch this screensaver and be impressed by the high realistic colorful space scenes. Relax, watching the spectacular Mercury planet views accompanied by mysterious ambient sounds.