Mercury:
- has a diameter of 4,876 kilometres
- is 58 million kilometres from the sun
- takes 59 days to spin once on its own axis
- takes 88 days to orbit the sun
- has no moons
- has a surface temperature of 350 degrees Celsius
The atmospheric composition of Mercury is 42% Helium, 42% Sodium, 15% Oxygen and 1% Other.
Mercury was named after by the Romans after the fleet-footed messenger of the Gods as it seemed to move more quickly than any other planet.
Interesting fact:
Although Mercury is the nearest planet to the sun, Venus is the hottest, with a surface temperature of 480 degrees Celsius.
