There are no reviewed versions of this page, so it may not have been checked for adherence to standards.

Mercury is the nearest planet in the Solar System to the Sun. It is very small. It is covered in craters. It is very hot every day, and very cold every night.

View of Mercury from Mariner 10

It is the smallest planet in the solar system. Because it is the closest planet from the Sun, it is the fastest planet. It only takes 88 days for it to go around the Sun.

It is one of the densest planets in the solar system, second to our Earth. The planet is made up mostly of iron, which is very dense. However, it has the very weak magnetic field.

Mercury has only been visited by one spacecraft, Mariner 10. The planet is named after the mythological Roman winged messenger of the gods, because it orbits the Sun so fast.

See also

edit
edit


The Solar System
 
Star: The Sun
Planets: MercuryVenusEarthMarsJupiterSaturnUranusNeptune
Dwarf planets: CeresPlutoEris
Small solar system body: Asteroid beltCometsMeteorsKuiper beltScattered discOort cloud
Other: Moon