To compare Venus and Mercury correctly, here are some key points:
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Size and Composition:
- Mercury is the smallest planet in the solar system, with a diameter of about 4,880 kilometers. It is a rocky planet with a dense metallic core and a silicate mantle.
- Venus is similar in size to Earth, with a diameter of about 12,104 kilometers. It is also a rocky planet but has a thick atmosphere primarily composed of carbon dioxide.
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Atmosphere:
- Mercury has a very thin atmosphere, almost negligible, which means it cannot retain heat. This results in extreme temperature variations between day and night.
- Venus, on the other hand, has a very thick and toxic atmosphere that traps heat through the greenhouse effect, leading to surface temperatures around 465 degrees Celsius (869 degrees Fahrenheit), making it the hottest planet in the solar system.
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Surface Conditions:
- Mercury experiences extreme temperature changes, ranging from about -173 degrees Celsius (-280 degrees Fahrenheit) at night to 427 degrees Celsius (800 degrees Fahrenheit) during the day.
- Venus has a much more stable temperature due to its thick atmosphere, but the high pressure on its surface (about 92 times that of Earth's) creates extremely hostile conditions.
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Moons:
- Neither Mercury nor Venus has any natural moons.
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Orbital Characteristics:
- Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun, taking about 88 Earth days to complete one orbit.
- Venus is the second planet from the Sun and takes about 225 Earth days to orbit the Sun.
In summary, Venus and Mercury differ significantly in size, atmosphere, surface conditions, and orbital characteristics, with Mercury being smaller and having a negligible atmosphere, while Venus is hotter with a thick, toxic atmosphere.
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