2007-02-28 06:04:06 · 16 answers · asked by ksmith30789 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Mercury has 3.4% water in its atmosphere. That's kindof hard to imagine, especially since Mercury has extreme temperature differences. The side facing the sun is about 800 degrees farenheit, and the side facing away from it is about -300 degrees farenheit. The reasons for this difference is that Mercury has a longer day than it has a year. It rotates about three times for every two times it revolves around the sun.
2007-02-28 06:16:58 · answer #1 · answered by Laurel W 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
There is a slight chance that Mercury might have some subsurface water in small amounts near the poles. Other than that it is doubtful since the surface temperature is much higher than the boiling point of water.
2007-02-28 06:08:00 · answer #2 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well considering that Mercury is the closet planet to the sun and is steaming hot I would say that there is no water on it. It would seem that Mercury is so hot there all liquid would evaporate and been dispated.
2007-02-28 07:12:49 · answer #3 · answered by Lighting Bolt 7 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We haven't actually found any, but we think there could be trace amounts of water vapor in its almost nonexistant atmosphere (which could mean a single drop's worth). There might also be trace amounts of ice in shadowed craters near the poles.
Any water vapor or ice is of a transient nature...occasionally replenished by comets only to be lost again to solar heat and radiation.
We should learn much more upon the arrival of the Messenger spacecraft next decade.
2007-02-28 08:42:41 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, the temperature on Mercury is far too high to sustain any appreciable atmosphere. The planet itself is so close to the sun it experiences tremendous influxes of high energy radiation that would strip any gases from the planet's weak gravitational hold.
2007-02-28 06:20:21 · answer #5 · answered by Larry L 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well...The surface of Mercury is over 1100 degrees in the "day".
Water boils and turns to vapor at 212 degrees and almost no atmosphere to keep any of it contained.
I don't think so.
2007-02-28 06:15:06 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not to our knowledge. Mercury is too hot (because of its proximity to sun) and too small to hold any normal atmosphere, including water. If at all any gases exist, they must be pretty heavy.
2007-02-28 06:09:22 · answer #7 · answered by Swamy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes
2007-02-28 06:06:00 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
to be sure that the media isn't lying you why don't you go on mercury and check it by yourself (just joking)
2007-02-28 06:07:16 · answer #9 · answered by fruit_challenge 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some scientists believe that may be traces in craters at the pols.
http://groups.google.com/group/neat-astronomy?hl=en
2007-02-28 08:29:05 · answer #10 · answered by chase 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋