Mercury is the planet closest to the Sun.
Overview
- Mercury orbits the Sun at about 0.39 astronomical units (AU), making it the innermost planet in our solar system.
- It is the smallest of the eight planets and has extreme temperature variations due to its proximity to the Sun and its slow rotation.
Context notes
- This ordering (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune) is the standard arrangement by increasing distance from the Sun.
- If you’re looking for a quick reference on planetary distances, NASA and other science sources typically present the same order and approximate AU values.
If you’d like, I can summarize how Mercury’s orbital dynamics lead to its status as the closest planet or provide a simple diagrammatic explanation.
