The planet closest to the Sun is Mercury. Its distance from the Sun is about 58 million km.
It is the smallest planet in our solar system and also the fastest one,and has a size slightly larger than the Moon of the Earth.
It takes the least amount of time to travel around the Sun and has the shortest year among all the planets of the Solar System.
The atmosphere of Mercury is composed of oxygen, sodium, hydrogen, helium, and potassium. The planet is terrestrial as it has a solid surface with silicate rocks and metals. The major component is Iron.
Mercury does not have a moon, but craters. It has the most number of craters in the solar system. As of now, 414 craters have been identified.
A day on Mercury is equal to 59 Earth days and a year on Mercury lasts 88 Earth days.
The two spacecraft that have visited Mercury are
(1) Mariner 10
(2) MESSENGER
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