Mercury is the smallest planet in the Solar system and the closest one to the Sun. Its surface is heavily cratered, resembling the Moon’s surface. The temperature on the surface of Mercury can reach up to 800°F during the day and drop below -280°F during the night.

Features on the Surface of Mercury

• Craters: The surface of Mercury has numerous craters that are spread out across the planet’s surface. These craters were formed when meteoroids hit the planet’s surface.
• Ridges: Mercury’s surface is also home to long ridges that stretch for hundreds of miles. These ridges were formed when the planet’s interior cooled and shrank, causing the crust to buckle and crack.
• Plains: There are large plains on the surface of Mercury which are called ‘smooth plains’. These plains are areas where the ground appears to be smooth and featureless.
• Cliffs: Another interesting feature on the surface of Mercury is its sharply defined cliffs or ‘scarps’. These cliffs are believed to have formed when the planet’s interior cooled and shrank, causing the crust to crack and move.

Despite being the closest planet to the Sun, Mercury is not the hottest planet in the Solar system. This is because it has no permanent atmosphere to trap heat. The planet’s proximity to the Sun, however, means that it gets bombarded with energy from the Sun, making its surface extremely hot.