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Mercury

Mercury is the closest planet to the sun. As such, it circles the sun faster than all the other planets, which is why Romans named it after their swift-footed messenger god.

The Sumerians also knew of Mercury since at least 5,000 years ago. It was often associated with Nabu, the god of writing.

A year on Mercury is just 88 days long.

One solar day on Mercury lasts the equivalent of 176 Earth days while the sidereal day lasts 59 Earth days.

Mercury is the smallest planet in the Solar System.

Mercury is just 4,879 kilometres across its equator, compared with 12,742 kilometres for the Earth.

Mercury has wrinkles.

As the iron core of the planet cooled and contracted, the surface became wrinkled. Scientists have named these wrinkles Lobate Scarps, up to a mile high and hundreds of miles long.