Contrary to popular belief, Mercury—not Venus or Mars—is Earth’s closest planetary neighbor on average, according to groundbreaking calculations
A new study has revealed that Mercury, not Venus or Mars, is Earth’s closest planetary neighbor on average. Researchers from NASA and the U.S. Army’s Engineering Research and Development Center used the “point-circle method” to calculate long-term average distances between planets.
Their findings challenge long-standing assumptions in astronomy. “Carelessness, ambiguity or group-think” among science communicators likely perpetuated the misconception, the researchers said. Mercury’s rapid orbit and frequent alignment with Earth’s side of the solar system contribute to its surprising average proximity.
This discovery not only redefines planetary relationships but could influence future space exploration missions. Mercury’s closest approach is 77 million kilometers, but at theoretical high speeds—like those achieved by NASA’s Parker Solar Probe—travel could take as little as five hours.
Despite harsh environmental conditions, missions like BepiColombo are gathering critical data, continuing work begun by MESSENGER.