Mercúrio

Mercúrio is the smallest planet in our solar system and the closest to the Sun. It is a terrestrial planet, meaning it has a rocky surface. Its surface is heavily cratered, resembling the Moon, and it has a very thin atmosphere called an exosphere.

The planet's proximity to the Sun results in extreme temperature variations. Daytime temperatures can soar to over 400 degrees Celsius (750 degrees Fahrenheit), while nighttime temperatures plummet to around -180 degrees Celsius (-290 degrees Fahrenheit). Mercúrio has no moons and no rings.

A year on Mercúrio, the time it takes to orbit the Sun, is only about 88 Earth days. However, its day, the time it takes to rotate on its axis, is very long, lasting about 59 Earth days. This means a single day on Mercúrio is longer than its year.

Despite its small size, Mercúrio has a surprisingly large iron core, which is thought to be responsible for its weak magnetic field. Its surface features include plains, scarps, and craters, some of which contain ice in permanently shadowed regions.

Observations of Mercúrio have been conducted by several spacecraft, including Mariner 10 and MESSENGER. The BepiColombo mission, a joint effort between the European Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, is currently en route to Mercúrio, aiming to provide even more detailed insights into the planet's composition, geology, and magnetic field.