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| This
small rocky planet is the closest to the
sun and fastest moving at 29 miles per
second. Mercury's orbit is wildly
ellipical ranging from 47 million
kilometers to 70 million kilometers from
the sun. Daytime temperatures on Mercury
tops out at 700 degrees Fahrenheit while
at night drops to -300 degrees below zero.
These extremes in temperatures are due to
lack of atmosphere. Resulting from close
proximity to the sun, it is believed the
atmosphere was burned away long ago. One
day on Mercury is 176 Earth days while
one year on Mercury is 88 Earth days.
Therefore, Mercury completes three
rotations for every two orbits around the
sun! |
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