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What is the lightest planet?

Published in Planetary Science 1 min read

The lightest planet in our solar system is Mercury.

Mercury: The Lightweight Champion

Mercury stands out as the planet with the lowest mass in our solar system. This fact is supported by astronomical data and makes Mercury a fascinating subject of study for scientists. It's interesting to note how much smaller Mercury is compared to Earth.

Key Facts About Mercury's Mass:

  • Relative Mass: Mercury's mass is only about 0.055 times that of Earth.
  • Size Comparison: This low mass makes it the smallest planet by mass in the entire solar system.
  • Percentage of Earth's Mass: Mercury possesses only approximately 5% of the Earth's mass.

It's quite significant that Mercury, despite being a planet in our solar system, has such a dramatically lower mass than Earth. Understanding these mass variations is crucial in studying planetary formation and the dynamics of our solar system. The reference clearly indicates that Mercury is by far the lightest planet, with its mass being only a fraction of Earth’s.

Planet Mass Relative to Earth
Mercury 0.055

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