Mercury
The speedy little world closest to the Sun. It’s rocky, full of craters, and has super hot days and freezing nights!
Imagine standing here: the sky and temperatures would be very different from Earth!
Scientists learn about Mercury using telescopes and space probes.
Every planet is special — compare the quick facts to see how Mercury stands out.
| Type | Rocky planet |
|---|---|
| Distance from Sun | ~58 million km |
| Day length | ~59 Earth days |
| Year length | ~88 Earth days |
| Fun fact | Has lots of craters like our Moon! |
Try this!
Grab a basketball for the Sun and small beads for the planets. Place them in a line to build a scale model of the Solar System. Notice how far apart the outer planets are!