Mercury is hot. While it can get extremely cold, it's predominantly known for its scorching temperatures.
Here's a breakdown:
- Daytime Heat: As the closest planet to the Sun, Mercury experiences extreme heat. Daytime temperatures can reach a staggering 700 Kelvin (427 °C / 800 °F) at its hottest points near the equator. This is because it orbits the sun very quickly, completing an orbit in just 88 Earth-days.
- Nighttime Cold: However, Mercury lacks a substantial atmosphere to trap heat. As a result, when the planet rotates away from the sun and experiences night, the temperature plummets dramatically. Nighttime temperatures can drop to as low as 100 Kelvin (-173 °C / -280 °F).
- Overall: Although temperatures vary drastically, the planet's proximity to the sun results in it being known as hot overall.
In summary, while Mercury experiences extremely cold temperatures on its night side, its daytime heat makes it predominantly a hot planet.
