Activity1ObservingMercury.ppt

Module 10: Mercury -Planet of Extremes We will leave the Earth - Moon system for now, and investigate Mercury, a planet with a strong resemblance to the Moon. First we’ll compare Mercury’s vital statistics with those of the Moon and Earth: Mercury, the planet closest the Sun, receives sunlight which is about seven times more intense than does Earth. Added to this, the long solar days on Mercury means that the daytime temperatures reach about 430°C, which is hot enough to melt lead. (b) Observing Mercury - Mariner 10 We do not know a great deal about Mercury - the last space mission which