Title: Mercury

Source: Mariner 10

Information: The Mariner 10 spacecraft obtained this view of Mercury during its out-going pass on March 29, 1974. This photomosaic has been tinted to approximate the visual appearance of Mercury. The Sun's innermost planet is barren and only slightly larger than the Earth's Moon. Although Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun, Venus is far hotter, due to the greenhouse effect in it's atmosphere. Mercury has no significant atmosphere.