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Why is Mercury so hot?
Mercury has almost no atmosphere. Because it is so close to the sun, it can be very hot. On its sunny side, Mercury can reach a scorching 800 degrees Fahrenheit! Sunlight never reaches into the bottoms of some craters near Mercury’s poles.
What is the temperature probably like on Mercury?
Still, dealing with extreme temperatures on Mercury would likely be unavoidable: Daytime temperatures on the planet can reach 800 degrees Fahrenheit (430 degrees Celsius), while nighttime temperatures can drop down to minus 290 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 180 degrees Celsius).
Did Mercury ever have life?
Scientists do not believe there has ever been life on Mercury. The atmosphere on Mercury is almost non-existant. In order for life (as we know it) to exist, Mercury would need to have temperatures that allow liquid water to remain on its surface for long periods of time.
Is there life on earth?
The existence of life on Earth rests on five main pillars: the distance from the Sun, neither too close nor too far away, just enough for liquid water; the magnetic core, which protects the atmosphere from the drag of the solar wind and life from cosmic radiation; the atmosphere itself, whose greenhouse effect prevents …
What is the weather like on Mercury?
What is the weather like on Mercury? Since Mercury has hardly any atmosphere, it does not have weather like storms, clouds, winds or rain . Its surface temperature can reach 801 Fahrenheit during the day (because it is so close to the Sun) and can drop to -279 Fahrenheit at night (because there is no atmosphere to trap the daytime heat).
What is the precipitation on Mercury?
Mercury has a small amount of water vapor in its upper atmosphere, but it does not result in any measurable humidity. The water vapor remains in the planet’s upper atmosphere and so there is never any precipitation.
What is the weather on Mercury?
In most respects, Mercury doesn’t have any weather, because it doesn’t have any atmosphere worth speaking of (see The “Atmosphere” of Mercury).
What is Mercury’s atmosphere?
Mercury has an extremely thin atmosphere which is made up of atoms blasted off its surface by the Solar wind, a constant stream of particles coming from the outer layer of the Sun. Because Mercury is so hot, these atoms quickly escape into space. Unlike the stable atmospheres of Earth and Venus,…