Mercury was named after a god of Roman mythology. The Roman god Mercury was a speedy messenger. Similarly, Mercury is the speediest of the planets. It takes just 88 days for
it to orbit the Sun. Mercury is the Sun's closest neighbor, too. There's a wide range of
temperatures on Mercury, from 872 Fahrenheit to -300 Fahrenheit. In 1974 and 1975, the
spacecraft Mariner lo visited Mercury, but besides that, we Earthlings have kept our
distance.
How does Mercury's name offer a clue to one of its defining characteristics?
A
The surface of Mercury is made up of a metal of the same name.
B
Mercury is named after a quick mythological figure and is the fastest planet.
с
Mercury does not have any moons, and the Roman god Mercury did not have any
friends.
D
Mercury is named after a poisonous plant of the same name and is covered in
poisonous gases.