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You are here: Home / Space / What Does Mercury’s Orbit Look Like From Earth and How Often Does the Planet Mercury Orbit the Sun?

What Does Mercury’s Orbit Look Like From Earth and How Often Does the Planet Mercury Orbit the Sun?

July 16, 2020 by Karen Hill

Mercury orbits the Sun once every 88 days at a speed of 29.8 miles (48 km) per second.

Its aphelion (farthest point from the Sun) is at a distance of 43 million miles (69 million km).

Mercury’s perihelion (closest distance from the Sun) is 30 million miles (46 million km).

Because this orbit is not very large, the small planet seems simply to move back and forth in a line from one side of the Sun to the other.

Mercury also has the most eccentric orbit of all the planets, and its distance from the Sun ranges from about 46 to 70 million kilometers.

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  • What Is the Best Way To See the Planet Mercury From Earth and When Is the Best Time Of Day To Look At Mercury?
  • When Was the Planet Mercury First Discovered, How Did It Get Its Name, and What Does Mercury Mean In Latin?
  • How Hot Does the Planet Mercury Get and Does the Planet Mercury Have an Atmosphere?
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Filed Under: Space

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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