Difference between revisions of "Mercury"

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|temp=179°C (354.2°F)
 
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|atmosphere=none
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|waterice=~0%
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|government=Corporate (mining companies based in the 'Danelaw)
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'''Mercury''', [[Venus]], [[Earth]], and [[Mars]] are terrestrial (rocky) planets. Among these, Mercury is an extreme: the smallest, the densest (after correcting for self-compression), the one with the oldest surface, the one with the largest daily variations in surface temperature - and the least explored.
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'''Mercury''', [[Venus]], [[Earth]], and [[Mars]] are terrestrial (rocky) planets. Among these, Mercury is an extreme: the smallest, the densest (after correcting for self-compression), the one with the oldest surface, and the one with the largest daily variations in surface temperature.
  
Color differences on Mercury are subtle, but they reveal important information about the nature of the planet's surface material. A number of bright spots with a bluish tinge are visible in this image. These are relatively recent impact craters. Some of the bright craters have bright streaks (called "rays" by planetary scientists) emanating from them. Bright features such as these are caused by the presence of freshly crushed rock material that was excavated and deposited during the highly energetic collision of a meteoroid with Mercury to form an impact crater. The large circular light-colored area in the upper right of the image is the interior of the Caloris basin. Mariner 10 viewed only the eastern (right) portion of this enormous impact basin, under lighting conditions that emphasized shadows and elevation differences rather than brightness and color differences. MESSENGER has revealed that Caloris is filled with smooth plains that are brighter than the surrounding terrain, hinting at a compositional contrast between these geologic units. The interior of Caloris also harbors several unusual dark-rimmed craters, which are visible in this image. The MESSENGER science team is working with the 11-color images in order to gain a better understanding of what minerals are present in these rocks of Mercury's crust.
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''(Text excerpted from NASA [http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/why_mercury/index.html MESSENGER Probe website])''
 
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''(Text courtesy NASA [http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/why_mercury/index.html MESSENGER Probe website])''
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The [[Soviet Air Force]] research vessel ''[[Ptichka]]'' was the first ship to land on Mercury. The planet has since become a source of easily-obtained metals, many in purer forms than the metals available in the [[Main Belt]] because they have gone through multiple melt/freeze cycles as Mercury rotates.
  
 
== Known Places on or around Mercury ==
 
== Known Places on or around Mercury ==
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* various mining stations
 
* various mining stations
  
[[Category:Places in Fenspace]]
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== External Links ==
[[Category:Mercury]]
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;[http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap130612.html All of Mercury]
 
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:Astronomy Picture of the Day, 2013 June 12 - a false-color animation of an orbit around Mercury.
  
 
{{places}}
 
{{places}}
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[[Category:Mercury| ]]

Latest revision as of 00:59, 28 March 2014

Places in Fenspace
Mercury
Mercury.jpg
Planetary characteristics
Orbit57,910,000
Diameter4,880 km (equatorial)
Surface Gravity0.38G
Year87.96 days
Day58.64 days
Mean Temperature179°C (354.2°F)
Atmospherenone
Water/Ice Index~0%
GovernmentCorporate (mining companies based in the 'Danelaw)
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Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars are terrestrial (rocky) planets. Among these, Mercury is an extreme: the smallest, the densest (after correcting for self-compression), the one with the oldest surface, and the one with the largest daily variations in surface temperature.

(Text excerpted from NASA MESSENGER Probe website)

The Soviet Air Force research vessel Ptichka was the first ship to land on Mercury. The planet has since become a source of easily-obtained metals, many in purer forms than the metals available in the Main Belt because they have gone through multiple melt/freeze cycles as Mercury rotates.

Known Places on or around Mercury

  • various mining stations

External Links

All of Mercury
Astronomy Picture of the Day, 2013 June 12 - a false-color animation of an orbit around Mercury.