On the surface

Mercury is a planet of extreme variations in temperature, in its surface features and in its magnetic field

The surface of Mercury is not very well understood, but mapping by Mariner 10 and Messenger has revealed numerous craters and plains regions, crisscrossed with compression folds and escarpments. Not long after it formed, the planet was hit heavily and often in at least two waves by large asteroids and comets, which caused its extremely cratered surface. Couple this with periods of strong volcanic activity, which resulted in the smooth plains, and you have a very hilly surface. Mercury can reach 427 degrees Celsius (800 degrees Fahrenheit), and there’s a big difference between the temperature at the equator and the temperature at its poles. It has the most temperature variations of any planet in the Solar System, getting as low as -183 degrees Celsius (-297 degrees Fahrenheit). There may be…

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All About Space Book of the Solar System (Digital) - 1 Issue, All About Space Book Of The Solar System 4th Edition

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