Mercury

Mercury is our solar system's smallest planet.

Related Topics: Earth, Venus, We Don't Planet 

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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 published

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 published

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 last updated

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 published

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 published

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 published

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 published

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.

Artist's illustration of a black hole.

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

By Sarah Wells published

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 published

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 published

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 published

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 published

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.

Mercury transits the sun, as seen behind the Washington Monument, on Nov. 11, 2019.

Rare Mercury Transit, the Last Until 2032, Thrills Skywatchers Around the World

By Hanneke Weitering, Elizabeth Howell last updated

The tiny planet Mercury scooted across the sun's face today (Nov. 11) for the last time until 2032, and skywatchers around the world had the chance to witness the rare celestial event.

Instruments onboard NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory study the sun in a range of different wavelengths to learn more about the star. This image of the transit of Mercury was captured by the satellite's Atmospheric Imaging Assembly instrument.

The Mercury Transit of 2019 in Photos! The Best Views Until 2032

By Tariq Malik last updated

On Nov. 11, 2019, the planet Mercury crossed the face of the sun in a rare Mercury transit. See amazing photos of the transit, the last until 2032, from NASA and around the world!

Mercury transited the sun on Nov. 11, 2019, as seen from Washington, D.C.

This NASA Scientist Is So Excited About the Mercury Transit of 2019. Here's Why

By Elizabeth Howell published

Mercury's march across the sun today (Nov. 11) is due to a weird and wild set of planetary alignments, according to NASA.

Japan's Hinode spacecraft captured this image of Mercury passing in front of the sun on Nov. 8, 2006, using the spacecraft's Solar Optical Telescope instrument.

Mercury Transit 2019: Photos, Videos and Explainers for the Rare Sight

By Doris Elin Urrutia last updated

On Nov. 11, people across most of the world can catch the planet Mercury passing across the sun. This rare event won't be seen from Earth again until 2032.

The beginning of the Nov. 11, 2019, transit of Mercury as seen by the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager instrument on NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory satellite.

How to Film the Mercury Transit of 2019

By All About Space magazine published

Given that transits of Mercury are reasonably rare, so here's a short guide on steps to take to film the event before it ends!

Mercury begins its transit of the sun on Nov. 11, 2019. This image was captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory as Mercury was approaching the limb of the sun to begin the transit.

The Mercury Transit of 2019 Has Begun!

By Elizabeth Howell last updated

Grab your solar eclipse glasses or protected astronomical equipment, because Mercury is marching across the sun as we speak.

Mercury as seen passing between Earth and the sun during a transit.

The Mercury Transit of 2019: The Best Photos from Twitter, Instagram and More

By Tariq Malik, Meghan Bartels published

The Mercury transit of 2019 is finally upon us. Here are amazing photos from social media.

Mercury will cross the face of the sun in a rare transit of Mercury on Nov. 11, 2019. The next time this will happen will be 2032.

Rare Transit of Mercury, the Last Until 2032, Occurs Today! Here's What to Expect

By Elizabeth Howell published

The planet Mercury is going to cross across the sun today (from Earth's perspective) starting at 7:34 a.m. EST (12:34 p.m. GMT).