Mercury

Small, similar to Earth's Moon

Near to the Sun, surface temperatures above 800F

Very little atmosphere

Heavy cratering, old lava flows

A large metal core, with a thin rock mantle (evidence for impact?)

Lobate scarps point to contraction after formation (post cratering)

Why is Mercury difficult to observe?

A dead, inert world

Planet Mercury, with a mottled brown surface.
 Cratered and cracked surface.
Mercury Close Up		 Second image of surface, showing overlapping craters.
Hills of Mercury
Images of planet Mercury, closest to the Sun. [NASA]