Скачать или смотреть Mercury’s Extremely Thin Atmosphere.

Mercury’s Extremely Thin Atmosphere

Mercury, the smallest and closest planet to the Sun, stands out in the solar system for many reasons—its scorching days, freezing nights, and crater-scarred surface. But one of its most fascinating features is its extremely thin atmosphere, a fragile veil of particles that scientists call an exosphere rather than a true atmosphere.


Unlike Earth, Venus, or even Mars, Mercury does not have enough gravity or internal processes to hold onto a thick, protective blanket of gases. Instead, its “atmosphere” is so thin that individual atoms rarely collide with one another. This exosphere is made mostly of oxygen, sodium, hydrogen, helium, and potassium, all of which constantly escape into space. Because it cannot trap heat, the planet experiences extreme temperature swings—from 430°C during the day to –180°C at night.

The Sun also plays a huge role. Solar radiation constantly blasts Mercury, knocking particles off its surface and feeding the exosphere through a process called sputtering. In a sense, the Sun itself creates Mercury’s atmosphere, but also continually strips it away. The result is a delicate balance that never lasts more than a short moment.

Mercury’s thin atmosphere doesn’t just reveal what the planet is made of—it teaches us about the forces that shape worlds. It reminds us how fragile a planetary environment can be, and how unique Earth is in its ability to hold onto life-sustaining air. Mercury, silent and exposed, offers a glimpse into the raw and unforgiving nature of the inner solar system.


#mercury #cosmicexploration #spaceexploration #universe #spacetravel #science #sciencefacts #space #facts #shorts #shortvideo #galaxy