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Mercury facts for kids

The planet Mercury

Mercury is the smallest planet and the closest to the Sun. Find out how hot and cold it gets, why its day is longer than its year, and test yourself with a quick quiz.

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Meet Mercury

Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun, and the smallest planet in our Solar System. Mercury is only a little more than a third as wide as Earth. It is only slightly bigger than Earth's Moon.

Hot days and freezing nights

In the daytime, Mercury's surface can reach 430 degrees Celsius. At night it can fall to minus 180 degrees Celsius. Mercury has almost no air, so its nights get freezing cold even though it is so close to the Sun.

Even so, Mercury is not the hottest planet. Venus is hotter.

A short year and a long day

A year on Mercury lasts just 88 Earth days. It is the fastest planet round the Sun.

But Mercury spins slowly. From one sunrise to the next takes 176 Earth days, so a day on Mercury lasts longer than its year.

Craters, and no moons

Mercury's surface is covered in craters. It has no moons and no rings.

Mercury in a nutshell

Quick quiz: Mercury

Try these, then tap Show answer under each one.

  1. How long is a year on Mercury?

    • 88 Earth days
    • 365 Earth days
    • 687 Earth days
    • 12 Earth years

    88 Earth days. A year on Mercury lasts just 88 Earth days. It is the fastest planet round the Sun.

  2. True or false: Mercury is the hottest planet, because it is closest to the Sun.

    False. Venus is farther from the Sun, but its thick atmosphere traps the heat. It's hot enough to melt lead.

  3. How many moons does Mercury have?

    • None
    • One
    • Two
    • Twenty

    None.

  4. True or false: on Mercury, one day, from sunrise to sunrise, lasts longer than one year.

    True. From one sunrise to the next takes 176 Earth days. A year takes 88.

  5. Why do Mercury's nights get freezing cold?

    • It has almost no air to hold the heat
    • It is far from the Sun
    • It is covered in ice
    • Its moon blocks the Sun

    It has almost no air to hold the heat. Mercury has almost no air, so its nights get freezing cold even though it is so close to the Sun.

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