Mercury: Science Vocabulary 03

Wadjasay? American English Pronunciation Practice

Here’s some information about Mercury from the NASA website. If you’d like to learn more about Mercury, please visit the Mercury page linked at the end of these notes.

The smallest planet in our solar system and nearest to the Sun, Mercury is only slightly larger than Earth's Moon. From the surface of Mercury, the Sun would appear more than three times as large as it does when viewed from Earth, and the sunlight would be as much as seven times brighter.

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).

Despite its proximity to the Sun, Mercury is not the hottest planet in our solar system – that title belongs to nearby Venus, thanks to its dense atmosphere. But Mercury is the fastest planet, zipping around the Sun every 88 Earth days.

Namesake
Mercury is appropriately named for the swiftest of the ancient Roman gods.

Potential for Life
Mercury's environment is not conducive to life as we know it. The temperatures and solar radiation that characterize this planet are most likely too extreme for organisms to adapt to.
Repetition practice:

1. The smallest planet in our solar system and nearest to the Sun,

2. Mercury is only slightly larger than Earth's Moon.

3. From the surface of Mercury,

4. the Sun would appear more than three times as large

5. as it does when viewed from Earth,

6. and the sunlight would be as much as seven times brighter.

7. Mercury's surface temperatures are both extremely hot and cold.

8. Because the planet is so close to the Sun,

9. day temperatures can reach highs of 800°F (430°C).

10. Without an atmosphere to retain that heat at night,

11. temperatures can dip as low as -290°F (-180°C).

12. Despite its proximity to the Sun,

13. Mercury is not the hottest planet in our solar system

14. – that title belongs to nearby Venus,

15. thanks to its dense atmosphere.

16. But Mercury is the fastest planet,

17. zipping around the Sun every 88 Earth days.

18. Mercury is appropriately named

19. for the swiftest of the ancient Roman gods.

20. Mercury's environment is not conducive to life as we know it.

21. The temperatures and solar radiation

22. that characterize this planet

23. are most likely too extreme for organisms to adapt to.

Source: https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/mercury/in-depth/

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