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| − | '''Mercury''' is the smallest planet in the [[Solar system|solar system]] and is the closest to the [[Sun|sun]]. Mercury is a rocky planet appearing much like the [[Moon|moon]] and has virtually no atmosphere (none is modeled in Orbiter), and has no natural satellites | + | '''Mercury''' is the smallest planet in the [[Solar system|solar system]] and is the closest to the [[Sun|sun]]. Mercury is a rocky planet appearing much like the [[Moon|moon]] and has virtually no atmosphere (none is modeled in Orbiter), and has no natural satellites. |
Mercury was visited in 1974 and 1975 by Mariner 10 in two flybys and was again visited by MESSENGER spacecraft orbiting Mercury from 2011 to 2015 when it was deorbited. BepiColombo, a joint mission by the European Space Ageny (ESA) and Japan Aerospace Exploraation Agency (JAXA) was launched on 20 October 2018 and is scheduled to reach Mercury on 5 December 2025. | Mercury was visited in 1974 and 1975 by Mariner 10 in two flybys and was again visited by MESSENGER spacecraft orbiting Mercury from 2011 to 2015 when it was deorbited. BepiColombo, a joint mission by the European Space Ageny (ESA) and Japan Aerospace Exploraation Agency (JAXA) was launched on 20 October 2018 and is scheduled to reach Mercury on 5 December 2025. | ||
== Orbital characteristics == | == Orbital characteristics == | ||
| − | Mercury is the innermost planet in the system with a semimajor axis of 5.79×10<sup>7</sup> km. But, the orbital eccentricity is the largest of all the planets, about 0.2056, its distance ranging from 46 million to almost 70 million km from the Sun, and the inclination of its orbit is just over 7°, also largest of all the planets | + | Mercury is the innermost planet in the system with a semimajor axis of 5.79×10<sup>7</sup> km. But, the orbital eccentricity is the largest of all the planets, about 0.2056, its distance ranging from 46 million to almost 70 million km from the Sun, and the inclination of its orbit is just over 7°, also largest of all the planets. |
== Physical characteristics == | == Physical characteristics == | ||
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===== Topography and Textures ===== | ===== Topography and Textures ===== | ||
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*[https://www.orbiter-forum.com/resources/planet-mercury-level-8-high-resolution-surface.3449/ Planet Mercury Level 8 High Resolution Surface] released 19 October 2004 by BigJimW providing level 8 textures for Mercury. | *[https://www.orbiter-forum.com/resources/planet-mercury-level-8-high-resolution-surface.3449/ Planet Mercury Level 8 High Resolution Surface] released 19 October 2004 by BigJimW providing level 8 textures for Mercury. | ||
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*[[w:Mariner 10|Mariner 10 mission]] at Wikipedia | *[[w:Mariner 10|Mariner 10 mission]] at Wikipedia | ||
*[[w:MESSENGER|MESSENGER mission]] at Wikipedia | *[[w:MESSENGER|MESSENGER mission]] at Wikipedia | ||
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== References == | == References == | ||
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{{Planet-Stub}} | {{Planet-Stub}} | ||
| − | [[Category:Articles | + | [[Category: Articles]] |
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[[Category:Solar System]] | [[Category:Solar System]] | ||
[[Category: Planets]] | [[Category: Planets]] | ||