3 ms·
176 Earth days from sunrise to sunrise: 2 local years, half an Earth year. So instead of spring/ summer/fall/winter, you have day/night/day/night. At the right
by pencilguin 4y ago
176 Earth days from sunrise to sunrise: 2 local years, half an Earth year. So instead of spring/ summer/fall/winter, you have day/night/day/night.
At the right latitude, and a few meters deep, temperature would be comfortable. But energy would be a problem, with the season-long night.
Axial tilt is <2 degrees. There might be some volatiles frozen in polar craters.
Temperature at a pole would be low, but solar panels mounted vertically (or, better, a wavelength-selective mirror reflecting onto horizontal panels), rotating slowly, would offer continuous power. Constant temperature too low is a lot easier to handle than too high, or varying much. You need to dig down for protection from cosmic radiation.
Gravity is about like Mars, which might or might not be adequate, long term. Nobody knows.
It is remarkably hard to get to and from Mercury. Jupiter is easier.