space flight to mercury

"Mercury, the smallest and densest planet in the solar system, was first observed at least five thousand years ago, but its proximity to the sun makes it difficult for scientists to study. This ... resource illuminates Mercury for young readers with satellite images, helpful diagrams, and vocabulary boxes. Topics covered include Mercury's formation, surface, atmosphere, orbit, and rotation, as well as Mariner 10 and Messenger, the unmanned spacecraft that have flown by Mercury and provided more insight into the planet's features"--Amazon.com.

Text and photographs present information on Mercury, the planet closest to the sun, as it was photographed by the United States spacecraft Mariner 10.

Describes the orbit, rotation, temperature, and surface formations of the planet Mercury and the probe Mariner X that took pictures of it in 1974 and 1975.