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Mercury (planet) is a featured article; it (or a previous version of it) has been identified as one of the best articles produced by the Wikipedia community. Even so, if you can update or improve it, please do so.

Mercury (planet) is part of the Solar System series, a featured topic. This is identified as among the best series of articles produced by the Wikipedia community. If you can update or improve it, please do so.

This article appeared on Wikipedia's Main Page as Today's featured article on August 25, 2006.

Article milestones
Date	Process	Result
November 28, 2005	Good article nominee	Listed
December 16, 2005	Peer review	Reviewed
May 3, 2006	Featured article candidate	Promoted
October 15, 2006	Featured topic candidate	Promoted
June 6, 2008	Featured article review	Kept
August 27, 2008	Featured topic candidate	Not promoted
June 13, 2021	Featured topic removal candidate	Demoted
June 20, 2022	Featured topic candidate	Promoted
A news item involving this article was featured on Wikipedia's Main Page in the "In the news" column on October 22, 2018.
Current status: Featured article

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Confusing: Planet or Element?

Some users look for the element, and find this page, thinking there would be a "Not to be confused with Mercury (Element)" or "the element" or "the element of the same name" Pinky the rancher slime (talk) 22:31, 5 October 2023 (UTC)[reply]

See WP:NOHATNOTE. The title of this page is not ambiguous. Readers searching for 'Mercury' are sent to the disambiguation page. Praemonitus (talk) 22:35, 5 October 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Oh, I didn't notice. I guess my ADHD didnt see it. Haha Pinky the rancher slime (talk) 00:20, 7 October 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Whoops I searched it on the web, now I get it. Pinky the rancher slime (talk) 00:23, 7 October 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Semi-protected edit request on 21 May 2024

This edit request has been answered. Set the |answered= or |ans= parameter to no to reactivate your request.

Change "moon" (referring to Earth's Moon) to "Moon"; Physical Characteristics-Compressional features-line 1. Lejack 007 (talk) 16:01, 21 May 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Done, thanks. Rasnaboy (talk) 18:04, 21 May 2024 (UTC)[reply]

New information: Layer of Diamond on Mercury

Hey everyone. Does anyone want to add the new theory that Mercury has a 10-11 mile layer of Diamond below its graphite-silicate exterior? Thanks

https://www.space.com/mercury-diamond-layer-10-miles-thick-nasa-messenger IapetusCallistus (talk) 19:54, 10 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Confusing: Caloris Planitia properties

The introduction describes:

"Its largest crater, Caloris Planitia, has a diameter of 1,550 km (960 mi) and one-third the diameter of the planet (4,880 km or 3,030 mi)."

I think this is trying to say this crater _covers_ one-third the diameter of the planet? 38.73.235.252 (talk) 16:28, 11 September 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Seems so. I've rephrased the passage; hopefully it's clearer now. Double sharp (talk) 18:07, 11 September 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I'm not sure that even makes sense, because coverage is implicitly two-dimensional and diameter is one-dimensional. I'd say it "spans" one-third the diameter of the planet. Praemonitus (talk) 18:09, 11 September 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I think my wording addresses that: it simply notes that this diameter is about 1/3 the planet's diameter. Double sharp (talk) 05:32, 12 September 2024 (UTC)[reply]

"1st planet" listed at Redirects for discussion

The redirect 1st planet has been listed at redirects for discussion to determine whether its use and function meets the redirect guidelines. Readers of this page are welcome to comment on this redirect at Wikipedia:Redirects for discussion/Log/2024 October 21 § until a consensus is reached. Cremastra (u — c) 12:26, 21 October 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@Cremastra: I found no such discussion on the linked log page. Are we waiting on an automated process? Praemonitus (talk) 15:19, 21 October 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Done. We were waiting on my real-life business. :) The section is “Ambiguous "planet 3" redirects”. Cremastra (u — c) 19:33, 21 October 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Supposed highest eccentricity

In the section entitled "Orbit, rotation and longitude", we are told that Mercury has the "most eccentric" orbit. Pluto, 2 Pallas and others have higher eccentricities. See Orbital eccentricity. Could someone rectify this? T6hl37s (talk) 15:55, 7 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]

It fully reads Mercury has the most eccentric orbit of all the planets in the Solar System, meaning that dwarf planets, asteroids, comets, and other TNOs are excluded from consideration. Ark Hyena (it/its) 16:49, 7 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]

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-== Mercury's magnetic field ==
+== Confusing: Planet or Element? ==
+Some users look for the element, and find this page, thinking there would be a "Not to be confused with [[Mercury (Element)]]" or "[[Mercury (Element)|the element]]" or "[[Mercury (Element)|the element of the same name]]" [[User:Pinky the rancher slime|Pinky the rancher slime]] ([[User talk:Pinky the rancher slime|talk]]) 22:31, 5 October 2023 (UTC)
-Hello, this is [[User:SpaceChimp1992|SpaceChimp1992]]. I'm one of the new users here at [[Wikipedia]], and I created an article that I invested a lot of time into: [[Terraforming of Europa (moon)]]. I am asking for your consent if it is O.K. if I create an article about [[Mercury's magnetic field]]. I'm also sure that it will be different than just re-stating what's already on [[Mercury (planet)#Magnetic field and magnetosphere]], I will inform the reader about Mercury's magnetic field strength, magnetic field detection and magnetic poles, the discovery of this magnetic field, etc. Would that be okay? Cheers! --<font face="High Tower Text" size="3px">'''[[User:SpaceChimp1992|<font color="red">Space</font>]][[User talk:SpaceChimp1992|<font color="orange">Chimp</font>]][[Special:Contributions/SpaceChimp1992|<font color="green">1992</font>]]'''</font> 1:13, 15 July 2011 (UTC)
+: See [[WP:NOHATNOTE]]. The title of this page is not ambiguous. Readers searching for 'Mercury' are sent to the disambiguation page. [[User:Praemonitus|Praemonitus]] ([[User talk:Praemonitus|talk]]) 22:35, 5 October 2023 (UTC)
+::Oh, I didn't notice. I guess my ADHD didnt see it. Haha [[User:Pinky the rancher slime|Pinky the rancher slime]] ([[User talk:Pinky the rancher slime|talk]]) 00:20, 7 October 2023 (UTC)
+:::Whoops I searched it on the web, now I get it. [[User:Pinky the rancher slime|Pinky the rancher slime]] ([[User talk:Pinky the rancher slime|talk]]) 00:23, 7 October 2023 (UTC)
+== Semi-protected edit request on 21 May 2024 ==
-== Supposed highest eccentricity ==
+{{Edit semi-protected|Mercury (planet)|answered=yes}}
-The remark about Mercury's having the highest orbital eccentricity at 0.205 may be true of the major planets. Minor planets like Pallas have higher ones.  <span style="font-size: smaller;" class="autosigned">— Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/92.27.109.117|92.27.109.117]] ([[User talk:92.27.109.117|talk]]) 11:15, 29 June 2013 (UTC)</span><!-- Template:Unsigned IP --> <!--Autosigned by SineBot-->
+Change "moon" (referring to Earth's Moon) to "Moon"; Physical Characteristics-Compressional features-line 1. [[User:Lejack 007|Lejack 007]] ([[User talk:Lejack 007|talk]]) 16:01, 21 May 2024 (UTC)
-:That of the orbit of Icarus is 0.82.  <span style="font-size: smaller;" class="autosigned">— Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/92.27.109.117|92.27.109.117]] ([[User talk:92.27.109.117|talk]]) 11:17, 29 June 2013 (UTC)</span><!-- Template:Unsigned IP --> <!--Autosigned by SineBot-->
+:{{done}}, thanks. [[User:Rasnaboy|Rasnaboy]] ([[User talk:Rasnaboy|talk]]) 18:04, 21 May 2024 (UTC)
-::"solar system's planets" wording is specifically used in lead and 'planet' word is used in whole article. Somewhat like "celestial objects" or "solar system objects" is not used which can confuse readers. So what are you trying to say? [[User:Neo.|neo]] ([[User talk:Neo.|talk]]) 11:45, 29 June 2013 (UTC)
-== Edit request on 2 July 2013 ==
+== New information: Layer of Diamond on Mercury ==
+Hey everyone. Does anyone want to add the new theory that Mercury has a 10-11 mile layer of Diamond below its graphite-silicate exterior? Thanks
-{{edit semi-protected|answered=yes}}
-<!-- Begin request -->
-request make Jun 8 resulted in pre approval to edit parts of the Mercury article. Very good but I cannot find out how to exercise this privilege.
-<!-- End request -->
-[[User:Zinganthropus|tdw1203]] ([[User talk:Zinganthropus|talk]]) 22:43, 2 July 2013 (UTC)
-: You should see an "edit" link in the top-right corner of the article page.  If you need help, ask at the [[WP:HD|help desk]] or [[WP:TH|teahouse]].  [[User:RudolfRed|RudolfRed]] ([[User talk:RudolfRed|talk]]) 03:50, 3 July 2013 (UTC)
+https://www.space.com/mercury-diamond-layer-10-miles-thick-nasa-messenger [[User:IapetusCallistus|IapetusCallistus]] ([[User talk:IapetusCallistus|talk]]) 19:54, 10 August 2024 (UTC)
-== Edit request on 2 July 2013 ==
+== Confusing: Caloris Planitia properties ==
-{{edit semi-protected|answered=yes}}
-<!-- Begin request -->
-In the section Naked Eye Viewing the writer says  "In successive years the position of Mercury on its orbit shifts by 0.15 revolutions when seen on specific dates, such as the equinoxes.' THE COROLLARY to this is that after 7 years (7x .15 ~ 1.0) the phenomena of the planet repeat themselves almost exactly. This information may prove more useful than the .15/yr. datum.
-[[User:Zinganthropus|tdw1203]] ([[User talk:Zinganthropus|talk]]) 22:56, 2 July 2013 (UTC)
-:{{ESp|a}} --'''[[User talk:ElHef|<font color="red">El</font><font color="orange">Hef</font>]]'''&nbsp;<small>([[Special:Contributions/ElHef|<font color="black">Meep?</font>]])</small> 05:52, 14 July 2013 (UTC)
+The introduction describes:
-== Edit request on 2 July 2013 ==
+"Its largest crater, [[Caloris Planitia]], has a diameter of {{convert|1,550|km|mi|abbr=on}} and one-third the diameter of the planet ({{Convert|4880|km|mi|abbr=on|disp=or}})."
-{{edit semi-protected|answered=yes}}
-<!-- Begin request -->
-In the section Naked Eye Viewing the writer says  "In successive years the position of Mercury on its orbit shifts by 0.15 revolutions when seen on specific dates, such as the equinoxes.' THE COROLLARY to this is that after 7 years (7x .15 ~ 1.0) the phenomena of the planet repeat themselves almost exactly. This information may prove more useful than the .15/yr. datum.
-[[User:Zinganthropus|tdw1203]] ([[User talk:Zinganthropus|talk]]) 23:06, 2 July 2013 (UTC)
+I think this is trying to say this crater _covers_ one-third the diameter of the planet? [[Special:Contributions/38.73.235.252|38.73.235.252]] ([[User talk:38.73.235.252|talk]]) 16:28, 11 September 2024 (UTC)
-== Maximum altitude of Mercury in a dark sky ==
+:Seems so. I've rephrased the passage; hopefully it's clearer now. [[User:Double sharp|Double sharp]] ([[User talk:Double sharp|talk]]) 18:07, 11 September 2024 (UTC)
+: I'm not sure that even makes sense, because coverage is implicitly two-dimensional and diameter is one-dimensional. I'd say it "spans" one-third the diameter of the planet. [[User:Praemonitus|Praemonitus]] ([[User talk:Praemonitus|talk]]) 18:09, 11 September 2024 (UTC)
+::I think my wording addresses that: it simply notes that this diameter is about 1/3 the planet's diameter. [[User:Double sharp|Double sharp]] ([[User talk:Double sharp|talk]]) 05:32, 12 September 2024 (UTC)
+== "[[:1st planet]]" listed at [[Wikipedia:Redirects for discussion|Redirects for discussion]] ==
-{{edit semi-protected|answered=yes}} The sixth paragraph of the "Observation" section currently includes the sentence "In low latitudes and at the right times of year, the ecliptic intersects the horizon at a very steep angle, meaning that Mercury can be relatively high (altitude up to 28°) in a fully dark sky.[citation needed]" 28 degrees is actually the maximum elongation of Mercury from the sun, and astronomical twilight is defined as beginning (or ending) when the sun is 18 degrees below the horizon (see the Wikipedia article on twilight), so this sentence should read "In low latitudes and at the right times of year, the ecliptic intersects the horizon at a very steep angle, meaning that Mercury can be relatively high (altitude up to 10°) in a fully dark sky." Thanks! <small><span class="autosigned">—&nbsp;Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Noah Lawes|Noah Lawes]] ([[User talk:Noah Lawes|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Noah Lawes|contribs]]) 21:43, 22 December 2013 (UTC)</span></small><!-- Template:Unsigned -->
+[[File:Information.svg|30px]]
-:{{ESp|n}} info in article appears to be sourced. Have you got a source to show otherwise? --[[User:Mdann52|<span style="color:Green">'''Mdann'''</span>]][[Special:Contributions/Mdann52|<span style="color:Red">'''52'''</span>]]<small>[[User talk:Mdann52|<span style="color:Maroon">''talk to me!''</span>]]</small> 13:27, 8 January 2014 (UTC)
+The redirect <span class="plainlinks">[//en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=1st_planet&redirect=no 1st planet]</span> has been listed at [[Wikipedia:Redirects for discussion|redirects for discussion]] to determine whether its use and function meets the [[Wikipedia:Redirect|redirect guidelines]]. Readers of this page are welcome to comment on this redirect at '''{{slink|Wikipedia:Redirects for discussion/Log/2024 October 21#}}''' until a consensus is reached. <!-- Template:RFDNote --> '''[[User talk:Cremastra|<span style="color:#3D613F;">Cremastra</span>]]''' ([[User:Cremastra|u]] — [[Special:Contribs/Cremastra|c]]) 12:26, 21 October 2024 (UTC)
+:{{ping|Cremastra}} I found no such discussion on the linked log page. Are we waiting on an automated process? [[User:Praemonitus|Praemonitus]] ([[User talk:Praemonitus|talk]]) 15:19, 21 October 2024 (UTC)
+::Done. We were waiting on my real-life business. :) The section is “Ambiguous "planet 3" redirects”. '''[[User talk:Cremastra|<span style="color:#3D613F;">Cremastra</span>]]''' ([[User:Cremastra|u]] — [[Special:Contribs/Cremastra|c]]) 19:33, 21 October 2024 (UTC)
+== Supposed highest eccentricity ==
-== Roman diety ==
-The introduction to this article states the following concerning Mercury's orbit period:
-:''This rapid motion may have led to it being named after the Roman deity [[Mercury (mythology)|Mercury]], the fast-flying messenger to the gods.''
+In the section entitled "Orbit, rotation and longitude", we are told that Mercury has the "most eccentric" orbit. Pluto, 2 Pallas and others have higher eccentricities. See [[Orbital eccentricity]]. Could someone rectify this? [[User:T6hl37s|T6hl37s]] ([[User talk:T6hl37s|talk]]) 15:55, 7 November 2024 (UTC)
-I think this is a bit misleading because the observation of the planet certainly predates the Roman deity known as Mercury. The god Mercury is just one aspect of the mythos surrounding the [[Classical planet|wandering stars]], which had many names in different cultures. Perhaps it could be rephrased as:
+:It fully reads {{tq|Mercury has the most eccentric orbit of '''all the planets in the Solar System'''}}, meaning that dwarf planets, asteroids, comets, and other TNOs are excluded from consideration. [[User:ArkHyena|Ark]][[User_talk:ArkHyena|Hyena]] (it/its) 16:49, 7 November 2024 (UTC)
-:''This rapid motion '''probably contributed to its association with''' the Roman deity [[Mercury (mythology)|Mercury]], the fast-flying messenger to the gods.''  <span style="font-size: smaller;" class="autosigned">— Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/216.23.185.158|216.23.185.158]] ([[User talk:216.23.185.158|talk]]) 20:52, 10 January 2014 (UTC)</span><!-- Template:Unsigned IP --> <!--Autosigned by SineBot-->