How Was the Planet Mercury Formed?
About Mercury The planet Mercury, the smallest planet in our solar system, is the closest planet to the sun. Temperatures on the surface of Mercury can get as high as 800 degrees F, and it produces a gravitational pull about 1 percent as strong as Earth’s. It is one of the four terrestrial planets, with a thick, rock-like surface similar to that of Earth’s. Formation Like the rest of the planets in our solar system, Mercury was formed about 5 billion years ago, when a nebula consisting of dust and gasses collapsed, forming the sun and surrounding it with cosmic materials. Eventually, these cosmic materials accumulated and became the planets. Mercury formed within the innermost cloud of this nebula, which was rich in heavy materials and iron. The planet became dense because of this position within the nebula. Alternative Theory Scientists share mixed theories on the formation of Mercury. One theory is that Mercury’s close proximity to the sun caused the rock surface to reach a boiling p
