Why can't scientists just go to Mercury to study it?
1 Answer
Its too hot, too close to the Sun (radiation) and has no atmosphere. (for starters)
Explanation:
Mercury is the closest planet to our Sun. It is, at its closest to the Earth at a distance of 57 Million miles. It is much closer to the Sun (so much hotter) and much smaller (about a third of the size of the Earth or, in comparison, if the Earth was the size of a baseball. Mercury would be the size of a golf ball). It has no atmosphere and it revolves around the Sun at much higher speeds than the Earth (its year is only 88 days for us). At the closer distance the solar radiation would also be fatal. And finally even if we could take care of all of those problems, it would take months to get there and managing to land on the planet would be next to impossible, and a one way trip.
So, no, we won't be going to Mercury any time soon (probably not ever).
