1. Mercury Andrew Chez

2. Discovery And Name Since mercury is visible with the naked eye it truly is impossible to say who really discovered the planet, but the model Copernicus made in 1543 with sun in the center of the solar system listed Mercury as a planet and Galileo backed up this evidence. Since mercury is visible with the naked eye it truly is impossible to say who really discovered the planet, but the model Copernicus made in 1543 with sun in the center of the solar system listed Mercury as a planet and Galileo backed up this evidence. Mercury is named after the messenger to the Roman gods Mercury is named after the messenger to the Roman gods

3. Composition/ Appearance Mercury has a rocky surface Mercury has a rocky surface Mercury's core is 70% metal and 30% silicates Mercury's core is 70% metal and 30% silicates Mercury has a gray surface with craters Mercury has a gray surface with craters

4. Specifications of Mercury First planet from the Sun First planet from the Sun Approximately 57.9* km from Sun Approximately 57.9* km from Sun Approximately 91.6* km from Earth Approximately 91.6* km from Earth Mass: 3.3022x 10 23 km Mass: 3.3022x 10 23 km Volume: 60,827,208,742 km 3 Volume: 60,827,208,742 km 3 Average Radius: 2,439.7 km Average Radius: 2,439.7 km Rotation (Earth days): 58.646 Rotation (Earth days): 58.646 Orbit (Earth Years): 0.241 Orbit (Earth Years): 0.241 * millions

5. Moons? There is no evidence of moons orbiting Mercury but experts haven't ruled out possibility due to how hard it has been to study the planet, and because not all data from MESSENGER was analyzed. A moon was thought to have existed during the 1970's but it was later confirmed as a misinterpretation of a star. There is no evidence of moons orbiting Mercury but experts haven't ruled out possibility due to how hard it has been to study the planet, and because not all data from MESSENGER was analyzed. A moon was thought to have existed during the 1970's but it was later confirmed as a misinterpretation of a star.

6. MESSENGER MESSENGER is a robotic spacecraft orbiting mercury that has given us most of our information and photographs of the planet MESSENGER is a robotic spacecraft orbiting mercury that has given us most of our information and photographs of the planet MESSENGER has recently provided the possibility of water in the form of ice at bottom of Mercury's deeper craters due to the fact that Mercury has a little tilt on axis so the ice would get no direct sunlight. MESSENGER has recently provided the possibility of water in the form of ice at bottom of Mercury's deeper craters due to the fact that Mercury has a little tilt on axis so the ice would get no direct sunlight.

7. Atmosphere, Weather, And Temperature Mercury barely has a atmosphere. But the thin atmosphere it does have is composed of hydrogen, helium, oxygen, sodium, calcium, potassium, and water vapors. Mercury barely has a atmosphere. But the thin atmosphere it does have is composed of hydrogen, helium, oxygen, sodium, calcium, potassium, and water vapors. There is not weather on the planet due to the lack of atmosphere but there is seasons with more or less sunlight and drastic temperature changes. There is not weather on the planet due to the lack of atmosphere but there is seasons with more or less sunlight and drastic temperature changes. Temperature changes drastically depending on the time of the day going from -300ºF all the way to 800ºF. The average surface temperature is 440ºF Temperature changes drastically depending on the time of the day going from -300ºF all the way to 800ºF. The average surface temperature is 440ºF

8. What If Humans Visited? If a human was to travel to Mercury without specialized equipment a lot of things could and would happen. The human could either be frozen to death or burned to death depending on the time of the day. Since there is barely an atmosphere the person would choke to death due to lack in oxygen. Weight is 1/3 of that on Earth so the person would be able to bounce at a great height. If a human was to travel to Mercury without specialized equipment a lot of things could and would happen. The human could either be frozen to death or burned to death depending on the time of the day. Since there is barely an atmosphere the person would choke to death due to lack in oxygen. Weight is 1/3 of that on Earth so the person would be able to bounce at a great height.

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