Answer: Mercury
Some extra relevant information:
The planet closest to the sun in our solar system is Mercury. Known as the “Swift Planet,” Mercury orbits the sun at an average distance of about 36 million miles (58 million kilometers). Due to its close proximity to the sun, the surface of Mercury experiences extreme temperatures, ranging from scorching hot during the day to freezing cold at night.
Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system and has a rocky, cratered surface similar to Earth’s moon. Despite its small size, it boasts some fascinating features, including long cliffs called scarps, impact craters, and smooth plains thought to have formed from volcanic activity in the distant past.
Being closest to the sun, Mercury has the shortest year among all the planets, completing one orbit in just about 88 Earth days. Interestingly, Mercury also has a slow rotation, taking approximately 59 Earth days to complete a single rotation on its axis. This means that a day on Mercury is significantly longer than its year.
Due to its close proximity to the sun, observing Mercury from Earth can be challenging. Its position in the sky is usually close to the sun, making it most visible during dawn or dusk when the sun’s brightness is less intense. However, several space missions, including NASA’s Mariner 10 and MESSENGER, have provided valuable insights about this intriguing planet.
In conclusion, Mercury holds the distinction of being the planet in our solar system that is closest to the sun. Its unique characteristics and extreme conditions make it an interesting subject for scientific exploration and observation.