Which is the planet in the solar system which is nearest to the Sun?

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RRB JE CBT I - (Held On: 30 May 2019 Shift 2)
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  1. Mercury 
  2. Mars 
  3. Venus 
  4. Earth

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 1 : Mercury 
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Detailed Solution

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The correct answer is Mercury

Key Points

  • Mercury is the planet in the solar system that is nearest to the Sun.
  • It is the smallest planet in the solar system and has no moons.
  • Mercury orbits the Sun at an average distance of about 57.9 million kilometers (36 million miles).
  • Due to its proximity to the Sun, Mercury has extreme temperature variations, with surface temperatures ranging from -173°C at night to 427°C during the day.
  • Mercury has a very thin atmosphere, composed mostly of oxygen, sodium, hydrogen, helium, and potassium.

Additional Information

  • Mercury has a heavily cratered surface, similar to the Moon, indicating it has been geologically inactive for billions of years.
  • The planet completes an orbit around the Sun in just 88 Earth days, making it the fastest orbiting planet in the solar system.
  • Despite its proximity to the Sun, Mercury is not the hottest planet in the solar system; that title goes to Venus, which has a thick atmosphere that traps heat.
  • Observing Mercury from Earth can be challenging due to its close orbit to the Sun, and it is often visible just before sunrise or just after sunset.
  • Space missions to Mercury include NASA's Mariner 10 and MESSENGER, which have provided valuable data about the planet's characteristics and environment.
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