Discover Mercury, the smallest and fastest planet in our solar system. Named after the Roman messenger god, Mercury is a world of extremes - scorching days, freezing nights, and the fastest orbit around the Sun.
Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun at an average distance of 36 million miles (58 million km)
Mercury completes its orbit around the Sun in just 88 Earth days, making it the fastest planet
Surface temperatures range from -300°F (-184°C) to 800°F (427°C) due to lack of atmosphere
One Mercury day equals 176 Earth days - longer than its year of 88 Earth days
Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system, only slightly larger than Earth's Moon
Mercury is visible from Earth without a telescope, best seen during greatest elongation
Named after Mercury, the Roman messenger god known for speed and communication
Known as Hermes in Greek mythology, messenger of the gods and guide to the underworld
Associated with Thoth, god of wisdom, writing, and the moon
Called Nabu, god of literacy, rationality, and wisdom
Mercury is best observed during greatest elongation, occurring about 6 times per year
Visible to naked eye, but binoculars or small telescope enhance the viewing experience
Look for Mercury shortly after sunset or before sunrise when it's furthest from the Sun
Never attempt to observe Mercury when it's close to the Sun - permanent eye damage may occur
In astrology, Mercury governs communication, intellect, travel, and technology. Known as the messenger planet, Mercury influences how we think, learn, and express ourselves.
How we express ideas, speak, and connect with others
Learning, reasoning, and mental processing abilities
Movement, trade, and connections between people
Mercury is always close to the Sun in our sky, making it difficult to see. It's only visible during brief periods at dawn or dusk when it's at its greatest elongation from the Sun.
Mercury has virtually no axial tilt (only 0.034°), so it doesn't experience seasons like Earth. However, its highly elliptical orbit causes significant temperature variations.
A human mission to Mercury would be extremely challenging due to intense radiation, extreme temperatures, and the massive energy required to reach and orbit Mercury.
Mercury retrograde is an optical illusion caused by Earth "overtaking" Mercury in its orbit, making Mercury appear to move backward against the background stars.