https://www.universetoday.com/newsletter, Weekly Space Hangout: That’s because it’s too close to the Sun. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUHI67dh9jEO2rvK–MdCSg, Support us at: https://www.patreon.com/universetoday For decades, researchers believed that Saturn was the only planet with rings, but … This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Mercury doesn’t have any moons, and there aren’t many asteroids that might interact with it, so it might never get a ring – but maybe one day. It’s also possible that the ring material just formed in place back when the Solar System formed. Virtually every planet in the Solar System has moons. His newest book is called the Biological Universe, and features the search for life in the Milky Way and Beyond. One thing’s for sure, though, there are no Mercury rings today. However, this process is also time consuming; Mercury has a lot of craters! Follow us on Twitter: @universetoday https://www.amazon.com/Universe-Today-Ultimate-Viewing-Cosmos/dp/1624145442/, Audio Podcast version: So what about Mercury? No. While Mercury does have an atmosphere, it is very thin and constantly trying to … Time on Mercury. Mercury does not have any moons. Only the gas planets, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune have rings and only those of Saturn are highly visible. For an understanding of why Mercury does not have a moon, it is important to understand how moons occur in other planets. Mercury does not have rings. A ring very close to the sun. Only the gas planets, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune have rings and only those of Saturn are highly visible. A moon may occur from a disk of materials orbiting a planet. Mercury’s Neighbors. We also know that some of Saturn’s moons, like Enceladus, are continuing to spew fresh material into the rings. Mercury’s atmosphere is constantly shifting, is consistently stripped and blown away by solar winds, and it is constantly replenishing itself. If you’d like more information on Mercury, check out NASA’s Solar System Exploration Guide, and here’s a link to NASA’s MESSENGER Misson Page. The Planet Mercury does not have any rings, or any moons. RSS: https://www.universetoday.com/audio, What Fraser's Watching Playlist: Join us at patreon.com/universetoday. Mercury doesn't really have an atmosphere. And More…, Episode 691: Interview: Seth Shostak from the SETI Institute, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. And More…, Episode 694: Interview: Fred Watson, Australia's Astronomer at Large, Episode 693: Open Space 92: Why I Hate Embargoed News Stories, and More…, Episode 692: Open Space 91: Any Updates on Venus? Only the gas planets, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune have rings and only those of Saturn are highly visible. Scientists surmise that the most likely reason for this is due to the strong gravitational pull of the sun on the planet. The disk eventually becomes a big enough body that it may end up having a spherical shape. 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No. Because the forces of gravity are so strong, rings are not likely to occur. N.p., n.d. I say right now, because it’s possible that Mercury has had rings in the past, and it could have them again in the future. Web. Listen to it here, Episode 49: Mercury. There are two ways that scientists think a planet can get rings. It was later determined that the radiation was coming from a distant star, rather than a moon. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun, it has no rings or moons because the gravity of the sun far exeedes the gravity of mercury. Although moons are a common feature in our Solar System, Mercury does not have any moons. Celestial Collisions; Capturing Asteroids; Trapped Comets; The Sun’s Gravity; Related Articles; Celestial Collisions. Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/universetoday Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system. As of 2014, no moons, rings or signs of life have been seen on Mercury, according to NASA. Karla Thompson – @karlaii / https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEItkORQYd4Wf0TpgYI_1fw Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are the four planets in our solar system that have rings. We have also recorded a whole episode of Astronomy Cast that’s just about planet Mercury. The second way for a ring to form is for an asteroid or moon to get too close to a planet and be torn apart by gravity. This material was then captured by the gravitational force of the planet. Unfortunately, Mercury could never get rings like this. Altogether, 491 frames were taken … Since Mercury has no moons, this scenario cannot occur. The first is the icy rings around Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune. The powerful solar winds blast out from the Sun, and would melt and destroy any icy rings around Mercury. Sorry, Mercury doesn’t have rings right now. [/caption] For a few million years this crushed asteroid would appear as a ring around Mercury, until the chunks finally fell down onto the planet. Most people associate planetary rings with Saturn because its rings are more visible and colorful compared to the other planets. We have written many stories about rings here on Universe Today. It is small and rocky. Rings around planets are usually comprised of rocks, dust, ice and other particles that were pulled into the plant’s gravitational pull as these objects were traveling past the planet. Think about the planets in the Solar System; Saturn has rings, so do Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune. In the 1970s, astronomers believed Mercury might have a moon based on large amounts of ultraviolet radiation detected by a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) spacecraft. Twitch: https://twitch.tv/fcain For decades, researchers believed that Saturn was the only planet with rings, but advancements in technology led to the development of space probes that discovered rings around the gaseous planets. ITunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/universe-today-guide-to-space-audio/id794058155?mt=2 In fact, ice can’t exist closer to the Sun than the asteroid belt, unless it’s hidden in shadow, or protected by an atmosphere like we have on Earth. https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/biological-universe/4599E17C7FAAECE4A87038C62039C755, Our Book is out! Scientists surmise that the most likely reason for this is due to the strong gravitational pull of the sun on the planet. Therefore, when you are thinking about Mercury’s atmosphere, you should remember that it does have an atmosphere, but it is not similar to the atmosphere we know on Earth. 4 Dec. 2012 http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/profile.cfm?Object=Mercury&Display=OverviewLong. One day on Mercury is about as long at 176 days on Earth. Mercury is the closest planet to the sun. Continue Reading. Our Earth has one large moon, Saturn has 60 or more and even tiny Pluto, smaller even than Mercury, has its own moons. In this image alone, 763 craters have been identified and measured (shown in green) along with 189 hills (shown in yellow). Chad Weber – [email protected], Support Universe Today podcasts with Fraser Cain. See no ads on this site, see our videos early, special bonus material, and much more. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Most people associate planetary rings with Saturn because its rings are more visible and colorful compared to the other planets. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-KklSGlCiJDwOPdR2EUcg/, Astronomy Cast: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are the four planets in our solar system that have rings. They are all gaseous planets and represent half the number of planets in the solar system. There seems to be some … In some cases, it is theorized that the rings around other planets were formed when material was broken off of moon circling the planets. Since it the innermost planet in the solar system, it also means that it revolves around the sun in the shortest time (89.97 days) compared to the other planets. A day on Mercury lasts 59 Earth days. Mercury does not have a moon. And More…, Episode 695: Q&A 130: Does the Dark Forest Explain the Fermi Paradox? The Planet Mercury does not have any rings, or any moons. Astronomers predict that the Martian moon Phobos will eventually suffer this fate, be torn apart by Mars’ gravity, and form a ring for a while. Atmosphere, it is very thin and constantly trying to … How many moons Mercury. Ads on this site, see our videos early, special bonus material, and have. Dec. 2012 http: //www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/mercury, “ solar system the gas planets, Jupiter, Uranus, and have! 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