Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun. It is the second smallest planet in the solar system. Only Pluto is smaller. If Earth were the size of the ball used in playing Jacks, Mercury would be the size of a chickpea.
Mercury is one of the inner planets. The others are Venus, Earth, and Mars. Mercury is a tiny planet. However, it is visible without a telescope. It is not easy to see though. Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun. The Sun's glare makes it very hard to see Mercury. When the Sun is just below the horizon there is less glare. So, Mercury can sometimes be seen low on the horizon at dawn or dusk.
