Mercury – Facts and Information about the Planet Mercury

Two views of Mercury captured by NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft on Jan. 14, 2008, and Sept. 29, 2009.

Mercury may not have shrunk nearly as much as scientists think

By Charles Q. Choi

Mercury may not have shrunk nearly as much as scientists previously thought, potentially solving the mystery posed by the planet's continuing quakes.

The brightest planets in March's night sky: How to see them (and when)

By Joe Rao

Here's how to see planets visible in March's night sky.

The rings of Saturn glide above Jupiter as the two planets pass near Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building.

How to watch the rare 'triple conjunction' of Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn tonight

By Brandon Specktor

Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn will form a tight triangle in the sky this Sunday during a rare 'triple conjunction' event.

Jupiter, Saturn and Mercury as seen shortly after sunset on Jan. 10, 2021.

Don't miss Jupiter, Saturn and Mercury shine in a triple-conjunction this weekend

By Joe Rao

A spectacular gathering of bright planets will be the chief celestial attraction in the evening sky this weekend as Jupiter, Saturn and Mercury appear to crowd into tight quarters.

Here's what scientists heard when Mercury-bound BepiColombo flew past Earth

By Gemma Lavender

BepiColombo captured five eerie recordings as it whizzed past Earth at a speed of 2.159 miles (3.474 kilometers) per second.

Farewell Venus, hello Mercury! The innermost planet steals the spotlight this week

By Joe Rao

As the "evening star" Venus begins to retreat from the evening sky, the tiny planet Mercury prepares to put on a show.

The European Space Agency released this animation of the BepiColombo spacecraft's final view of Earth, captured on April 10 and April 11, 2020.

This stunning crescent Earth is the last view of home from the Mercury-bound BepiColombo

By Elizabeth Howell

The BepiColombo spacecraft headed for Mercury showed off an epic last view of Earth while zooming away from our planet on Friday and Saturday (April 10 and 11).

An animation of images captured by cameras on the BepiColombo spacecraft shortly before its closest approach to Earth, on April 10, 2020.

What a view! Mercury probe snaps stunning photos of our planet during Earth flyby.

By Meghan Bartels

A spacecraft bound for Mercury beamed home stunning views of Earth during a crucial flyby conducted early today (April 10).

An artist's depiction of the BepiColombo spacecraft flying past Earth.

Farewell, Earth! Mercury probe makes successful flyby to head deeper into solar system.

By Meghan Bartels

A spacecraft taking the scenic route to Mercury successfully completed a crucial maneuver on its journey: a precisely choreographed swing past Earth.

BepiColombo captured its first Earth flyby images on April 9, 2020.

A Mercury probe flies by Earth tonight. Here's how to hitch a VR ride (and maybe see it, too!)

By Elizabeth Howell

The European-Japanese BepiColombo mission will whiz past our planet as the spacecraft continues on its long journey toward Mercury.

Earth and the moon as seen by BepiColombo on March 5, 2020, as the mission began preparing for its flyby of Earth.

Europe's Mercury-bound BepiColombo will swing past Earth soon! Here's what you need to know.

By Meghan Bartels

A mission dubbed BepiColombo is bound for Mercury, but in order to reach its destination, it needs to take the scenic route, beginning with a flyby of Earth later this month.

A colorful view of Mercury produced from images taken by the MESSENGER spacecraft.

Did Mercury once have the ingredients for life?

By Chelsea Gohd

It's possible that Mercury once held the ingredients for life.

An artist's visualization of BepiColombo's flyby of Earth.

Europe stalls science on 4 space missions due to coronavirus pandemic

By Chelsea Gohd

As concerns surrounding the coronavirus pandemic continue to grow, the European Space Agency (ESA) is scaling back on-site personnel and hitting pause on several scientific missions.

Despite Mercury's extreme heat, there is permanent ice at the planet's poles, according to data and images from NASA's MESSENGER probe, which visited Mercury in 2011.

Weird! Mercury's scorching temps may actually lead to ice.

By Elizabeth Howell

Could Mercury's close orbit to the sun help the planet generate ice? This sounds like a paradox, but a new study shows how it could happen.

During the first half of February, Mercury will complete its best evening appearance for mid-northern latitude observers during 2020, climbing higher in the west-southwestern sky every evening.

How to see the 'elusive planet' Mercury in the night sky in February

By Joe Rao

Mercury is often cited as the most difficult of the naked-eye planets to see due its proximity to the sun, but there are times during the year when Mercury can be surprisingly easy to spot.

The Decade in Astronomy: These Space Discoveries Shaped the 2010s

By Sarah Wells

As the 2010s come to a close, it's time to revisit how some of the biggest space science stories shaped the decade.

Balanchine crater on Mercury is visible at the center of this image taken by NASA's MESSENGER mission.

How 'The Nutcracker' Choreographer Inspired the Name of Mercury's Tutu-Like Crater

By Doris Elin Urrutia

Arecibo Observatory gathered radar data of Mercury from July 19 to 24, 2019.

A Radar Station in Puerto Rico Can See Ice on Mercury

By Meghan Bartels

There are no hurricanes on Mercury, but there is plenty of water ice — and observing that ice can help scientists deal with the lingering effects of a very terrestrial hurricane.

Former journalist Martin Evans (right) chats with two fellow guests of the Amateur Astronomers Association (AAA) gathering on Monday, Nov. 11, 2019, in Floyd Bennett Field, New York. Peering through the Orion EZ Finder II telescope is a mother who brought her children to the viewing event; standing to the left is amateur astronomer Stephen Lieber.

New Yorkers Celebrate Rare Mercury Transit by Staring at the Sun (Safely) with Wonder

By Doris Elin Urrutia

Near the edge of Jamaica Bay in New York City, about a dozen people gathered to watch Mercury travel across the sun.

The Mercury transit of Nov. 11, 2019, as seen from Turkey's Van province.

Miss the Mercury Transit of 2019? You'll Have to Wait 13 Years for the Next One

By Elizabeth Howell

If you missed Mercury's journey across the sun Monday (Nov. 11), you're in for a bit of a wait for the next sun-transiting planetary occasion.