If you’re anything like us, you’ve probably had the order of the planets in the Solar System memorized since school. But did you know that Pluto was downgraded from being a planet a whole 17 years ago? It’s a fact that some of us still struggle to accept.
Now, let’s test your knowledge. Which planet do you think is the closest to Earth? If you said Venus, you’re incorrect. If you said Mars, you’re even more incorrect. The correct answer is actually Mercury.
While Mercury is the innermost planet in the Solar System, it spends more time closer to Earth than Venus does on average. This surprising fact was discovered by a team who ran a simulation tracking the distance between each pair of planets over the course of 10,000 years.
But here’s the real kicker: Mercury is not only the closest planet to Earth, but it’s also the closest planet to all other planets in the Solar System. Yes, that includes Neptune!
If you’re interested in learning more about this fascinating discovery, you can read the full commentary in Physics Today.
