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Mercury, the Water Star Trivia Quiz

A quiz on the rocky planet Mercury. By the way, "Water Star" is its name in Chinese and Japanese.

A multiple-choice quiz by jonthomas. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
jonthomas

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
352,888

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
377

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Mercury has many craters on its surface. Which is the largest in diameter? Hint

Bach Basin

Monet Basin

Caloris Basin

Jokai Basin

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Question 2 of 10

2. What is unique about Mercury compared to other rocky planets? Hint

It is tidally locked with the Sun

It has little to no surface pressure

Its day is longer than its year

It has no moons

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Question 3 of 10

3. For a brief time in 1974, astronomers thought they had detected a small moon orbiting Mercury. What had they actually detected? Hint

It was simply equipment failure

Venus on the other side of the Sun

A far off binary star system

Our own moon

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Question 4 of 10

4. NASA astronomers have said that in the case of discovering a Mercurian moon, the recommended name is what? Hint

Hermes

Aeneas

Icarus

Caduceus

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Question 5 of 10

5. Which of these gases has never been detected on Mercury, even in trace amounts? Hint

Oxygen

Water vapor

Potassium

Carbon monoxide

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Question 6 of 10

6. How hot is the Sun-facing side of Mercury at aphelion (furthest distance from the Sun)? Hint

400 K

550 K

700 K

150 K

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Question 7 of 10

7. Does Mercury have a magnetic field?

Yes

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Question 8 of 10

8. How much of Mercury's surface was mapped after the MESSENGER probe's first flyby? Hint

Most of it

All of it

Only around half

Just the side we can see from Earth

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Question 9 of 10

9. Mercury is, on average, the closest planet to Earth.

True

False

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which layer of Mercury is the thickest in diameter? Hint

Crust

Core

Mantle

Inner Core

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Mercury has many craters on its surface. Which is the largest in diameter?

Answer: Caloris Basin

Caloris Basin is also one of the largest known craters in the entire Solar System. It is roughly 1,550 kilometers in diameter.

2. What is unique about Mercury compared to other rocky planets?

Answer: It has little to no surface pressure

Astronomers have not been able to detect much surface pressure on Mercury, if any. This is due to its very thin atmosphere, meaning there is minimal air pressure on Mercury. Mercury was also at one time falsely believed to be tidally locked, but this was disproven. Venus is the other rocky planet with no moons.

3. For a brief time in 1974, astronomers thought they had detected a small moon orbiting Mercury. What had they actually detected?

Answer: A far off binary star system

A probe sent to study Mercury had detected data showing occasional blips in electromagnetic radiation that hinted at the presence of a moon around Mercury. It was thought that the potential moon was blocking part of Mercury from the probe's sensors, however it was later discovered to be one star eclipsing another in a binary system.

4. NASA astronomers have said that in the case of discovering a Mercurian moon, the recommended name is what?

Answer: Caduceus

A caduceus is also used as the planetary symbol of Mercury. It also represents a messenger, which the god Mercury was. The name, however, is purely a suggestion, and if one is discovered, it is not guaranteed to be named as such.

5. Which of these gases has never been detected on Mercury, even in trace amounts?

Answer: Carbon monoxide

The only gases found on Mercury have been ionized in its very thin atmosphere, but carbon monoxide has not been found. Much of its atmosphere is thought to have been given to it by the solar wind.

6. How hot is the Sun-facing side of Mercury at aphelion (furthest distance from the Sun)?

Answer: 550 K

Mercury has the most eccentric orbit of the rocky planets, so its distance from the Sun varies quite a bit. This means that the Sun's rays will spread out more as they have to travel farther to reach Mercury, so they will not carry as much heat per area.

7. Does Mercury have a magnetic field?

Answer: Yes

Though not nearly as powerful as Earth's, Mercury does possess a magnetosphere strong enough to maintain an atmosphere, albeit minimal. The magnetic field is estimated to be 1.1% as powerful as our own.

8. How much of Mercury's surface was mapped after the MESSENGER probe's first flyby?

Answer: Only around half

To be precise, Mercury's surface area was about 45% mapped after the first flyby. Land-based observation of Mercury is difficult due to its proximity to the Sun, so we must send probes to explore it. Future missions such as BepiColombo plan to give a greater amount of detail to our current maps of Mercury.

9. Mercury is, on average, the closest planet to Earth.

Answer: True

Despite being closer to the Sun than Venus, due to the time it takes for each planet to orbit the Sun, Mercury is more often closer to Earth than either Venus or Mars. The closest Mercury comes to Earth is about 1.08 AU (Astronomical Units).

10. Which layer of Mercury is the thickest in diameter?

Answer: Core

At about 1,800 kilometers in diamter, Mercury's core is the thickest part of it. Mercury has no inner and outer core, just one main section. This is due to the Sun blasting away parts of its crust and mantle.

Source: Author jonthomas

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor CellarDoor before going online.
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