Mercury – Facts and Information about the Planet Mercury

This sky map shows where Mercury will be visible from New York City at approximately 7 p.m. local time on Sept. 13, 2021.

Spot the elusive planet Mercury at its 'greatest elongation' from the sun this evening

By Hanneke Weitering

Mercury, Venus and the first-quarter moon — along with the stars Spica and Arcturus — will appear to form a straight line in the evening sky on Sept. 13, 2021.

Mercury will be in conjunction with the crescent moon on Sept. 8, 2021, at 4:18 p.m. EDT (2018 GMT). The pair will be visible above the western horizon after sunset.

Mercury snuggles up to the crescent moon tonight

By Hanneke Weitering

The tiny planet Mercury will make a close approach to the crescent moon in the evening sky tonight (Sept. 8).

Mercury and Venus will appear low in the western sky 30 minutes after sunset on Sept. 5, 2021 during September's new moon. The bright star Spica will be visible below and to the left of Venus.

How to see Venus shine with bright star Spica tonight and maybe spot Mercury, too

By Tariq Malik

Venus and the bright star Spica will shine in the evening sky tonight (Sept. 5). Mercury is visible, too.

september 2021 Night sky Young Moon between Venus and Vesta

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

By Joe Rao

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

Titan's northernmost giant lake, Ligeia Mare, contains enough vinyl cyanide to form the cell membranes of ten million cells per cubic centimeter.

The five most impressive geological structures in the solar system

By David Rothery

When we talk about amazing geological features, we often limit ourselves to those on Earth.

The European/Japanese spacecraft BepiColombo has taken a selfie with Venus during its close flyby at the planet in August 2021.

Watch the BepiColombo probe zoom by Venus on its way to Mercury in this new video

By Tereza Pultarova

The European-Japanese BepiColombo spacecraft headed to Mercury can be seen flying low above the atmosphere of Venus in a new video released by the European Space Agency (ESA) on Thursday (Aug. 12).

Mercury-bound spacecraft snaps selfie with Venus in close flyby (photo)

By Tereza Pultarova

Mercury-bound spacecraft BepiColombo has zoomed past Venus at a distance of only 340 miles, taking a bunch of selfies and a lot of scientific measurements of the planet’s atmosphere.

A false-color image of Mercury taken by the MESSENGER spacecraft highlights the physical variation across the planet.

Planet Mercury: Facts about the planet closest to the sun

By Charles Q. Choi

Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system and is known for its short years, long days, extreme temperatures and weird sunsets.

Mercury and Venus will appear close to each other just after sunset on Friday, May 28, in the west-northwestern sky. They may be difficult to spot. Look for Mercury to the left of Venus.

Mercury and Venus will be at their closest until 2033 tonight, but may be hard to spot

By Elizabeth Howell

Venus and Mercury will meet in the evening sky Friday (May 28) for their closest encounter until Nov. 5, 2033.

Fifty years ago on May 5, 1961 only 23 day after Yuri Gagarin of the then-Soviet Union became the first person in space, NASA astronaut Alan Shepard launched at 9:34 a.m. EDT aboard his Freedom 7 capsule powered by a Redstone booster to become the first A

Photos: Freedom 7, America's 1st Human Spaceflight

By Space.com Staff

Alan B. Shepard, Jr., made the first U.S. manned spaceflight on May 5, 1961.

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 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.