Imagine you're playing catch with a friend. If you're standing very close to the person throwing the ball, it's much harder for you both to hold onto the ball, that's kind of like Mercury and the Sun. Mercury is so close to the Sun that any moon trying to orbit Mercury would get pulled away by the Sun instead. It’s like trying to hold on to a ball while someone else is tugging at it from far away.
Examples
- Imagine trying to hold onto a ball while someone else is tugging it away from you, that's like Mercury trying to keep a moon.
- If you were standing next to the person throwing the ball, they’d have a harder time keeping it in their hand, like how the Sun makes it hard for Mercury to keep a moon.
- A little kid trying to hold on to a balloon while a big dog is tugging at the other end, that’s Mercury and the Sun.
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See also
- Why is Venus Hotter than Mercury? + more videos | #solarsystem #earth #unusualplanets?
- What is Cleared the neighborhood around its orbit?
- What are motion of moons around planets?
- How Does the Solar System Stay Together?
- What Makes Saturn’s Rings So Gorgeous?