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

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.