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Mercury is the closest planet to the sun from "summary" of The Secret World of Stargazing by Adrian West
In our solar system, there is a small planet that orbits closest to the sun - Mercury. This tiny planet is just a fraction of the size of Earth, making it the smallest planet in our solar system. Due to its proximity to the sun, Mercury experiences extreme temperatures, with scorching heat on its sunlit side and freezing cold on its dark side. Mercury's orbit is highly elliptical, meaning that its distance from the sun varies significantly throughout its journey around the star. At its closest point, known as perihelion, Mercury is only about 29 million miles away from the sun. This close proximity results in Mercury having the shortest year of all the planets, with its orbit lasting just 88 Earth days. Despite its small size, Mercury has a relatively high density, which suggests that it has a large iron core. This dense core is thought to be responsible for Mercury's weak magnetic field, which is only about 1% as strong as Earth's. This magnetic field is believed to be generated by the liquid iron in Mercury's outer core, which interacts with the planet's rotation to produce a magnetic dynamo effect. Interestingly, Mercury is also the fastest planet in our solar system, with an average orbital speed of about 30 miles per second. This rapid motion means that Mercury completes three rotations on its axis for every two orbits around the sun, resulting in a peculiar pattern of day and night on the planet's surface. Despite its close proximity to the sun, Mercury is not the hottest planet in our solar system. That title belongs to Venus, which has a thick atmosphere that traps heat, creating a runaway greenhouse effect.- Mercury's unique characteristics make it a fascinating subject of study for astronomers and planetary scientists. Its close proximity to the sun, extreme temperatures, rapid motion, and enigmatic magnetic field all contribute to its mystique in the cosmic tapestry of our solar system.
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