Fun Facts About Mercury

Explore Mercury, the smallest and fastest planet in our solar system. Named for the swift Roman messenger god, Mercury completes its solar orbit in a mere 88 Earth days. This incredible speed and its slow rotation result in a unique phenomenon where a single solar day (sunrise to sunrise) is twice as long as its entire year. The planet is a world of incredible extremes, boasting the largest temperature swings in the solar system. Daytime temperatures on the surface can soar to 800°F (430°C), hot enough to melt lead, while the lack of an atmosphere causes nighttime temperatures to plummet to a chilling -290°F (-180°C). Discover why Mercury is shrinking over time, a process caused by the cooling of its massive iron core, which wrinkles the surface and creates massive cliffs. Learn about the planet's surprising, comet-like tail made of sodium atoms that streams for millions of miles through space. Want to learn more? Head over to my website www.funfactsdailypod.com and be sure to listen to my other podcasts Who ARTed: Weekly Art History for All Ages or Art Smart. For family fun, check out my son's podcast Rainbow Puppy Science Lab Fun Facts Daily is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email: [e-mail] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices