A Few Space Facts About Mercury...!

We all look to the heavens and wonder about the stars and other celestial bodies on a regular basis, I'm sure. Well, here is some interesting facts about Mercury that you may not be aware of.

A Single Day in Mercury Can Last 1408 Hours or More

Mercury is definitely one of the most unique planets in our solar system. Though it is the closest planet to the Sun, it isn’t the hottest as that title belongs to Venus. What really makes Mercury so special is its diurnal cycle that determines the length of days and nights. One single year lasts for only 88 days on Mercury but due to its very slow rotation, it takes about 176 Earth days for the Sun to complete one cycle. From recent radar measurements, it was found out that Mercury completes 3 rotations on its axis every time it finishes two orbits around the Sun. Therefore by taking into account the rotational velocity, it can be calculated that it takes about 58 days for a single rotation. Here’s the real kicker. This might make some assume that every day in Mercury lasts for 58 Earth days but that is not the case. Due to the fast orbital velocity and slow sidereal rotational aspects, one day in Mercury is actually equal to 176 Earth days.

This information might give you something else to think about the next time you do any star gazing.

Coffee out on the patio again today!