Part 5/10:
On the opposite side of Mercury from Caloris, some regions exhibit strange, hilly terrain with irregular topography. This "strange" terrain’s origin remains a topic of debate but could be linked to the planetary impacts and the aftermath of the Caloris impact.
Environment and Surface Conditions
Mercury experiences extreme temperature fluctuations due to its lack of a substantial atmosphere. Surface temperatures can soar to 400°C near the equator in daylight and plummet to -173°C at night. Interestingly, the polar regions, shielded from direct sunlight, harbor water ice packed into craters—a discovery confirmed by NASA's missions.