Planet Mercury Path Around Sun

Planet Mercury follows an elliptical orbit around the Sun, its closest point called Perihelion and farthest known as Aphelion. Due to its eccentric orbit, Mercury experiences extreme temperature variations, from scorching days to frigid nights. A year on Mercury, completing its orbit in about 88 days, is shorter than its day due to its slow rotation.

Starting around approximately 1200 - 1808 UTC (7:00 am - 1:38pm ET) November 11, 2019, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory watched as Mercury move across the Sun. The Solar Dynamics Observatory views the Sun in a variety of wavelengths of light in the extreme ultraviolet.

Music Credit: Frosted Lace by Matthew Charles Gilbert Davidson