SOLAR SYSTEM

Detailed explanation-1: -Mercury has almost no atmosphere. Because it is so close to the sun, it can be very hot. On its sunny side, Mercury can reach a scorching 800 degrees Fahrenheit! (But Mercury is not the hottest planet in the solar system.

Detailed explanation-2: -Answer and Explanation: Mercury is the smallest of the eight planets because it has the smallest circumference and has the smallest mass. The circumference of Mercury is about 9500 miles, and the second smallest planet is Mars with a circumference of just over 13, 000 miles.

Detailed explanation-3: -It appears that the surface temperature ranges from about 820 degrees to nearly 900 degrees F. The average surface temperature is 847 degrees F., hot enough to melt lead. No wonder the ocean basins are “dry". At these temperatures any water would evaporate nearly instantaneously.

Detailed explanation-4: -With the exception of Mercury, which has a very thin atmosphere, the high-percentage objects are the largest bodies in the solar system. The planet Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are sometimes called the Gas Giants because so much of the mass of these planets consists of a gaseous atmosphere.

Detailed explanation-5: -Mercury’s surface temperatures are both extremely hot and cold. Because the planet is so close to the Sun, day temperatures can reach highs of 800°F (430°C). Without an atmosphere to retain that heat at night, temperatures can dip as low as-290°F (-180°C).