Average Distance from the Sun

Mercury is the planet closest to the Sun, at an average distance from the Sun of about 58 million kilometers. By comparison, Earth is about 150 million kilometers from the Sun, while Pluto, the furthest planet, averages an enormous 5.9 billion kilometers away! If you were standing on Mercury, the Sun would appear much larger than it does on Earth. And since the Sun-Mercury distance varies so much during Mercury’s orbit, the Sun would appear larger at some times than at others.

Compare the size of the Sun on Mercury. Check out our "Places in the Sun"simulation by clicking on the image above.