Astr - 101 Notes Of A Ravenclaw
First-Year notes of a Ravenclaw student. Edition one. Part One of Seven. ASTR - 101. Astronomy. Professor Afolayon as the Instructor. Lessons One through Nine. DOES NOT INCLUDE HOMEWORK INFORMATION. Volume One in the "First Year" Class Series.
THIS IS NOT TO BE SUBSTITUTED FOR LESSONS.
Last Updated
05/31/21
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Lesson Two - Mercury
Chapter 2
- Mercury is a rocky planet and the closest to the Sun in our galaxy.
- For years, the planet was though to be free from water. Recently, Muggle scientists discovered ice towards the Northern Pole of the celestial body.
- This area is shielded from the sun's light by craters creating the possibility for water to form.
- Similar to Earth's moon, it is covered in craters.
- The largest Mercury crater is known as the "Caloris Basin" and was likely caused from a collision of some sort many years ago.
- Also a very hot planet with temperatures ranging from 90K to 700K.
- Volcanic activity has been confirmed as well, ranging back many years into Mercury's past. However, the volcano is no longer active
- Mercury is named for the Roman God of thievery, commerce and travel.
- Mercury's Greek counterpart, "Hermes," served as the messenger of the Gods. This suggests speed on Mercury's part.
- This is appropriate since it has the fastest orbital time around the Sun.
- Little is known about Mercury, since it is hard to study from our current position on Earth.
- A Mercury-bound space craft must travel ninety-one million kilometers from Earth to reach and break into the Sun's gravitation potential well.
- Mercury's orbital speed is 48 km/s compared to Earth's 30 km/s. This means the spacecraft must make a significant change in velocity.
- More rocket fuel is required to reach Mercury than to leave our solar system.
- To date, only two space probes have visited the planet. An alternative proposed approach is a solar sail to attain a Mercury-synchronized orbit around the Sun.
