A new and detailed picture of Mercury is emerging thanks to NASA’s MESSENGER mission that spent four years in orbit about the Sun’s innermost planet. Comprehensively illustrated by close-up images and other data, the author describes Mercury’s landscapes from a geological perspective: from sublimation hollows, to volcanic vents, to lava plains, to giant thrust faults. He considers what its giant core, internal structure and weird composition have to tell us about the formation and evolution of a planet so close to the Sun. This is of special significance in view of the discovery of so many exoplanets in similarly close orbits about their stars. Mercury generates its own magnetic field, like the Earth (but unlike Venus, Mars and the Moon), and the interplay between Mercury’s and the Sun’s magnetic field affects many processes on its surface and in the rich and diverse exosphere of neutral and charged particles surrounding the planet. There is much about Mercury that we still don’t understand. Accessible to the amateur, but also a handy state-of-the-art digest for students and researchers, the book shows how our knowledge of Mercury developed over the past century of ground-based, fly-by and orbital observations, and looks ahead at the mysteries remaining for future missions to explore.

Humans have long been fascinated by space exploration, from the earliest NASA probes to the latest journeys toward the distant edges of the solar system. Readers will learn about the discovery of new stars and planets, the ways celestial bodies are formed, and much more. Features: Engaging sidebars highlight important space discoveries Timelines illustrate the ways our knowledge of space has changed over time Glossaries explain difficult scientific terms in a way that makes them easy to understand Eye-catching images give readers an up-close look at the far reaches of space www.factsfornow.scholastic.com

The smallest planet in our solar system is also the closest to the sun. That means on Mercury, one year is just 88 days long! Discover more facts about the small but mighty Mercury.

"At its best in synthesizing [current available] information to derive theories about the geological and tectonic histories of the planet ."—Science Books & Films "This book is another in the excellent University of Arizona Space Science Series, each of which is based on a conference. . . .but goes far beyond a conference proceedings to present a comprehensive summary of current knowledge. . . .I recommend this book as a valuable compendium of current knowledge."—Pageoph "This collection will be a most valuable addition to any research library."—Choice

Discusses the orbit, surface features, exploration, and other aspects of the planet Mercury.

Learn basic facts about the planet Mercury and its place in the solar system.

The planet Mercury has highs around 800 °F and lows around -280 °F. Students will learn about Mercury¿s discovery, physical characteristics, and the environment that supports these extreme temperatures.