Changes

== Ancient History ==

== Ancient History ==

As with the other planets of the solar system, it was named after after Roman mythology, in this case the messenger god Mercury who is known as [[Hermes]] in Greek.

As with the other planets of the solar system, it was named after a Roman mythological figure, in this case the messenger god Mercury who is known as [[Hermes]] in Greek.

In the pre-Christian era, the Greeks actually gave the planet two different names, as it was believed to be two different objects.  The ancients did not realize that it could alternately appear on one side of the Sun and then the other. Mercury was called Hermes when in the evening sky, but was known as Apollo when it appeared in the morning. It is said that [[Pythagoras]], about the fifth century B.C., pointed out that they were one and the same.<ref name="spacemag"/>  

In the pre-Christian era, the Greeks actually gave the planet two different names, as it was believed to be two different objects.  The ancients did not realize that it could alternately appear on one side of the Sun and then the other. Mercury was called Hermes when in the evening sky, but was known as Apollo when it appeared in the morning. It is said that [[Pythagoras]], about the fifth century B.C., pointed out that they were one and the same.<ref name="spacemag"/>

== Composition ==

== Composition ==