Mercury is closest to the Sun from "summary" of Space Encyclopedia by David A. Aguilar,Christine Pulliam,Patricia Daniels
Mercury, the smallest and innermost planet in our solar system, holds the title of being the closest to the Sun. This means that Mercury orbits around the Sun at a distance shorter than any other planet. Due to its proximity to the Sun, Mercury has the shortest orbital period, completing a full orbit in just 88 Earth days. The close proximity to the Sun also affects Mercury's surface temperatures. During the day, temperatures on Mercury can soar up to a scorching 800 degrees Fahrenheit (430 degrees Celsius), hot enough to melt lead. However, at night, temperatures can plummet to a freezing -290 degrees Fahrenheit (-180 degrees Celsius) due to Mercury's lack of a substantial atmosphere to retain heat. Mercury's proximity to the Sun also plays a role in its appearance from Earth. As it orbits closer to the Sun than Earth, Mercury is sometimes visible in th...
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