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Mercury is the smallest planet in the Solar System, and it is the closest to the [[Sun]].  It orbits the [[Sun]] in 88 days. It rotates on its axis every 58.6 days,<ref>"The theory that Mercury is in [[synchronous rotation]] with its orbital motion was shattered in 1965. Astronomers Gordon Pettengill and Rolf Dyce used a radio telescope to make radar observations of Mercury’s spin rate. They found that Mercury’s rotation period is only 58.6 Earth days, not the 88 days accepted for nearly a century." [http://btc.montana.edu/messenger/elusive_planet/modern_times.htm]</ref> which is 3 rotations for every two orbits (called "3:2 resonance").  It can be seen from [[Earth]] only at sunrise and sunset.  It is named for the Roman messenger god who was known as [[Hermes]] in Greek.

 

[[Mercury]] is the smallest planet in the [[Solar System]], and it is the closest to the [[Sun]].  It orbits the [[Sun]] in 88 days. It rotates on its axis every 58.6 days,<ref>"The theory that Mercury is in [[synchronous rotation]] with its orbital motion was shattered in 1965. Astronomers Gordon Pettengill and Rolf Dyce used a radio telescope to make radar observations of Mercury’s spin rate. They found that Mercury’s rotation period is only 58.6 Earth days, not the 88 days accepted for nearly a century." [http://btc.montana.edu/messenger/elusive_planet/modern_times.htm]</ref> which is 3 rotations for every two orbits (called "3:2 resonance").  It can be seen from [[Earth]] only at sunrise and sunset.  It is named for the Roman messenger god who was known as [[Hermes]] in Greek.

It was the study of this planet's orbit that [[Albert Einstein]] used to help confirm the theory of General Relativity.[cite reference]

It was the study of this planet's orbit that [[Albert Einstein]] used to help confirm the theory of General Relativity.[cite reference]

[[Category:Planets]]

 

[[Category:Astronomy]]