Mercury

Mercury Astronomical Location Quadrant Alpha Sector 001 System Sol Physical Characteristic Classification F Surface Gravity 0.38g Rotational Period 176 Earth days Orbital Period 88 Earth days Additional Information Affiliation Federation

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Mercury is the innermost of the Sol System, orbiting at an average distance of 0.39 astronomical units, and is close enough to the star that lead melts on Mercury's "day" side while the planet's "night" side is exposed to the cold of open space. The surface is heavily cratered, with intervening areas of lava-flooded plains. The largest of these craters is the Caloris Basin. The planet supports a tenuous atmosphere consisting mainly of minute traces of helium, oxygen, and argon. With a density 5.4 times that of water, Federation scientists suspect the planet has a nickel-iron core.

Perched precariously along the meridian between the planet's light and dark sides, Solar Observatories One and Two monitor Sol's surface activities. Both bases are small, with little in the way of amenities, and few outside of the bases' personnel visit Mercury. The stations' personnel remain in close contact with the Khepera Chromosphere Solar Observatory, located inside the star's corona.

Reference(s)

• Isaacs, Ross A., et al. A Cadet's Guide to Sector 001, New York: Last Unicorn Games, 1999.