Mercury: Why Doesn't it Vaporize Away?

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Still being so close to the sun, what prevents the planet Mercury from vaporizing away?
 

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jobyts said:
Still being so close to the sun, what prevents the planet Mercury from vaporizing away?
Because it is made of rock and iron, mainly iron, and though close it is still not hot enough to melt, let alone vapourise.

Garth
 
To put it another way, Mercury doesn't vaporize for the same reason the Earth doesn't vaporize - it isn't close enough to the sun to get that hot.
 

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