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Difference between revisions of "Mercury"
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[[File:Mercury.png|300px|thumb|Symbol of planet Mercury]] | [[File:Mercury.png|300px|thumb|Symbol of planet Mercury]] | ||
'''Mercury''' is the smallest planet in the Solar System and the closest to the [[Sun]]. It is one of four terrestrial planets in the Solar System, and is a rocky body like Earth. It is the smallest planet in the Solar System, with an equatorial radius of 2,439.7 kilometers (1,516.0 mi). | '''Mercury''' is the smallest planet in the Solar System and the closest to the [[Sun]]. It is one of four terrestrial planets in the Solar System, and is a rocky body like [[Earth]]. It is the smallest planet in the Solar System, with an equatorial radius of 2,439.7 kilometers (1,516.0 mi). | ||
Mercury's surface is similar in appearance to that of the Moon, showing extensive mare-like plains and heavy cratering, indicating that it has been geologically inactive for billions of years. | Mercury's surface is similar in appearance to that of the Moon, showing extensive mare-like plains and heavy cratering, indicating that it has been geologically inactive for billions of years. | ||
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The Greco-Egyptian astronomer Ptolemy wrote about the possibility of planetary transits across the face of the Sun in his work Planetary Hypotheses. He suggested that no transits had been observed either because planets such as Mercury were too small to see, or because the transits were too infrequent. | The Greco-Egyptian astronomer Ptolemy wrote about the possibility of planetary transits across the face of the Sun in his work Planetary Hypotheses. He suggested that no transits had been observed either because planets such as Mercury were too small to see, or because the transits were too infrequent. | ||
In medieval | In medieval [[Islam]]ic astronomy, the Andalusian astronomer Abū Ishāq Ibrāhīm al-Zarqālī in the 11th century described the deferent of Mercury's geocentric orbit as being oval, like an egg or a pignon, although this insight did not influence his astronomical theory or his astronomical calculations. In the 12th century, Ibn Bajjah observed "two planets as black spots on the face of the Sun", which was later suggested as the transit of Mercury and/or [[Venus]] by the Maragha astronomer Qotb al-Din Shirazi in the 13th century. | ||
In India, the Kerala school astronomer Nilakantha Somayaji in the 15th century developed a partially heliocentric planetary model in which Mercury orbits the Sun, which in turn orbits Earth, similar to the Tychonic system later proposed by [[Tycho Brahe]] in the late 16th century. | In India, the Kerala school astronomer Nilakantha Somayaji in the 15th century developed a partially heliocentric planetary model in which Mercury orbits the Sun, which in turn orbits [[Earth]], similar to the Tychonic system later proposed by [[Tycho Brahe]] in the late 16th century. | ||
==Astrology== | ==Astrology== | ||
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In medicine, Mercury is associated with the nervous system, the brain, the respiratory system, the thyroid and the sense organs. It is traditionally held to be essentially cold and dry, according to its placement in the zodiac and in any aspects to other planets. | In medicine, Mercury is associated with the nervous system, the brain, the respiratory system, the thyroid and the sense organs. It is traditionally held to be essentially cold and dry, according to its placement in the zodiac and in any aspects to other planets. | ||
In modern astrology, Mercury is regarded as the ruler of the third house; traditionally, it had the joy in the first house. Mercury is the messenger of the gods in mythology. It is the planet of day-to-day expression and relationships. Mercury's action is to take things apart and put them back together again. It is an opportunistic planet, decidedly unemotional and curious. | In modern [[astrology]], Mercury is regarded as the ruler of the third house; traditionally, it had the joy in the first house. Mercury is the messenger of the gods in mythology. It is the planet of day-to-day expression and relationships. Mercury's action is to take things apart and put them back together again. It is an opportunistic planet, decidedly unemotional and curious. | ||
According to [[Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa]], [[chalcedony]] is a stone under the planets Mercury and [[Saturn]]. | According to [[Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa]], [[chalcedony]] is a stone under the planets Mercury and [[Saturn]]. | ||
[[Category:Planets]] | [[Category:Planets]] | ||