What planet is the closest to the sun?

This planet is not only the closest to the core of the Solar System - it is also known as the smallest one. Its orbital period is only 88 (Earth) days!

It is an interesting fact that in addition to many other peculiar qualities the planet also appears to be the fastest one - that is why it was named after the Roman deity as in mythology his name was usually associated with swiftness.

Test your knowledge

What are your thoughts on this subject?

137 Comments

Mario N. Lopez

Johnny Jackson, your opinion is so narrow, like one from an idiot. I am a retired Engineer and R.E. Broker and now a humble writer who was born abroad but surely better American -being by choice- that someone who believes he's the max ,just because of his place of birth. I will recommend you my latest book (still unfinished) "The Years of Heaven". Remember, you have no choice about place, family, race, language or blood type at the moment of birth. You can choose, however, to be tolerant, kind, just, prudent or a loving person instead of one practicing hatred. I'm sure my high school was not less than yours and with me, thousands of other immigrants from all over, particularly Latin America. You find educated people anywhere as well as uneducated and intolerant ones. Enough? I will NOT reply again. Best regards.........Mario.

filmnut

I guess now that Pluto has been reduced to a " Dwarf Planet " Mercury is now the smallest planet. I don't really agree with their decision to take away Pluto's title. I mean, any heavenly body that is spherical and has five moons has got to be more than a big rock.

Timothy Chapman

The people that said the earth was the closest to the sun needs to go back to elementary school in sicence

jferengi

Unfair discrimination and racism against Pluto. His planethood should be grandfathered.

Elizabeth Huff

And maybe you should go back and learn how to spell a little better... It science bud

Jim Moser

Everyone alive on planet Earth should know the order of the planets in our solar system: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto (which used to be planet #9).

kriscerz

I tried explaining time zones to a young man several years ago. After the third approach, he said, "Um, lady I don't think we went to the school." I asked, "What, elementary?" He laughed, "Aw naw, ma'am. I went to Woodbury."

Kristi Stevens

I agree with what you said 100!!!

kite005

Johnny Jackson Facts? Oh like when Trump says Obama is not an American. Those kind of facts.

Lydia Coutts

Karen Mulhollem Ignore Larry Lane - he's always spouting juvenile non-sequiturs about smoking dope in a contrived effort to be 'edgy'. It's incredibly dull. *Yawns*

Bank-Robber

Mercury in a thermometer make sun close to heat!!!

konrad

In the 50's, las century, some anomalies in the orbit of Mercury led some astronmers to think there was another planet between Mercury and the Sun, invisible because of the glare of the Sun itself.d. They even named it, Apollo, but later on, they decided it was not there... or had been attracted and vaporised by the solar heat..

Conrado De Leon

Timothy Chapman, Dear Tim, what makes you think that TODAYS TEACHERS ´know what planet is nearest the Sun? I was watching a Q & A programme on TV last week, and a High School Professor failed easier questions than the distance of planets to the sun.

Conrado De Leon

Some time along the 20th century, some anomalies in Mercury's orbit led some astronomers to think there was a hidden planet CLOSER to the sun. They even named the theoretical planet Apollo, but it was never sighted and it is very improbable that it could exist so close to the Sun.

marilyn roman

Bob Watt, I just finished "binge-watching" "Third rock from the Sun", AGAIN! L.O.L. I just love it! The whole cast was brilliant, especially John Lithgow! Just my humble opinion, of course.....

Bob Watt

I recall the very successful comedy series "Third rock from the Sun"

Ken Voth

Earth not a planet? Ma Bales,

Todd Van Dell

Mercury may be the swiftest planet, it is also a dead planet. On the surface, Mercury looks like our moon. The sun's heat blasted most of Mercury's atmosphere away and left a shell of a planet behind. What's scarier to consider? Mercury is actually 30 million miles from the sun. But that's still close enough to render it dead.

Hariharan Sahasranaman

Ma Bales, right and earth is the centre of the universe

earlepg

How could so many be so wrong? And to answer Jupiter? Also, why so many poems about the order of the planets?

slwing

I think Johnny, Larry, and Timothy should be banned from making remarks, or from this whole game. Most people are on here for enjoyment and sometimes to learn a little extra something we may not have previously known. There is absolutely no need for being rude, nasty,racist, etc..