2007-02-06 05:47:34 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The change in temperature on the surface of Mercury is due to its rotation and lack of atmosphere.
Mercury is only about one-third the size of the Earth. It is smaller than any other planet except Pluto. Mercury is very close to the Sun and has no substantial atmosphere. These factors contribute to the fact that the surface of Mercury has the greatest temperature range of any planet or natural satellite in our solar system. The surface temperature on the side of Mercury closest to the Sun reaches 427 degrees Celsius, a temperature hot enough to melt tin. On the side facing away from the Sun, or the night side, the temperature drops to -183 degrees Celsius.
2007-02-06 05:58:12 · answer #1 · answered by Shara S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The high extremes occur when the sun is directly overhead on Mercury. Since Mercury has a very slow rotational period, these subsolar regions get absolutely baked.
The low extremes occur in deep craters near the poles that never get any sun. Exacerbating this is the fact that there is no appreciable atmosphere to hold any heat.
2007-02-06 06:02:54 · answer #2 · answered by gebobs 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Simply because of two reasons.
1. It is closest to the sun, and so recieves most of its blasting inferno.
2. Its synodic period (how long it takes for the planet to twirl around its axis exactly one time) is about 116 days, which is longer than a mercury year, which is only 88 days. The same side of the planet is being exposed to previously mentioned blasting inferno of the sun, and so heats up to very high temperatures.
The same happens to the moon, only the moon doesn't rotate around an axis and so one side is constantly exposed to the sun, and is extremely hot. (actually the moon does rotate, but ever so slightly, it is nearly completely locked in its position)
2007-02-06 06:04:04 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mercury has an extremely slow rotational period so that half the planet is in constant sunlight and hence extremely hot and the other in almost constant darkness and thus cold.
2007-02-06 05:59:54 · answer #4 · answered by Cymro 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lack of atmosphere to filter sun or hold in heat.
2007-02-06 05:55:48 · answer #5 · answered by Scott 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on whether you're in the light of the sun or in total darkness.
2007-02-06 05:50:35 · answer #6 · answered by Gene 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋