Which Planet is Closest to the Sun?

Our solar system is a fascinating place, filled with planets, moons, asteroids, and comets. But have you ever wondered which planet is closest to the sun? The answer is **Mercury**, the smallest planet in our solar system.

Mercury is a rocky planet with a very thin atmosphere. It's so close to the sun that it experiences extreme temperatures, ranging from scorching hot during the day to freezing cold at night.

Why is Mercury the Closest Planet?

The planets in our solar system orbit the sun in a specific order, and Mercury is the first planet in line. Here's a quick rundown of the order of planets in our solar system, from closest to the sun to farthest:

1. Mercury
2. Venus
3. Earth
4. Mars
5. Jupiter
6. Saturn
7. Uranus
8. Neptune

The distance between each planet and the sun varies, but Mercury is consistently the closest.

Interesting Facts about Mercury:

• Mercury is named after the Roman messenger god, known for his speed. This makes sense considering it's the fastest planet in our solar system!
• A day on Mercury is longer than a year on Mercury. It takes 59 Earth days for Mercury to rotate once on its axis, but it takes only 88 Earth days to orbit the sun.
• Mercury has no moons.

Exploring Further:

If you're interested in learning more about Mercury and the other planets in our solar system, here are some resources:

• NASA's Solar System Exploration Website: https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/
• National Geographic's Solar System Guide: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/space/solar-system/

Keep exploring the wonders of space! There's always something new to discover.