The planet next to the sun is Mercury which is hard and is practically an airless sphere that offers a glimpse into the creation of the solar system.

However, Mercury with the size of 38% of Earth’s size is comparatively small and possesses a comparatively big iron core, and therefore it is the second densest planet in the Solar system after Earth. It is very irregular and has a textural appearance reminiscent of the Moon and consists of large plains and topographic highlands as well as impact craters of both volcanic and meteorite origin.

This temperature range from as high as 430 degrees Celsius, 800 degrees Fahrenheit in the day time to as low as -180 degrees Celsius, -290 degrees Fahrenheit at night. Its atmosphere is a dilute compound of oxygen, sodium and hydrogen and therefore does not support human life in the conventional sense of the word.

Mercury orbits the sun every 88 Earth days and while the planet has very little size, it rotates quite slowly; a Mercury day is 59 Earth days long. Mercury as a planet has enlightened our knowledge and research regarding other planets and how the solar system is formed.