Live · Mercury

How far is Mercury from Earth right now?

Centre-to-centre distance from Earth to Mercury, updated in this browser. Mercury moves faster than any other planet, so the gap changes by millions of kilometres in a few days.

See Mercury in 3DAll distances

Computing the distance from your device’s clock…

Why the distance changes

Mercury orbits inside Earth’s path. The distance is smallest near inferior conjunction, when Mercury passes between Earth and the Sun, and largest near superior conjunction, when Mercury is on the far side of the Sun. NASA’s Mercury Fact Sheet lists that range as 77.3 million km to 221.9 million km.

The live figure uses JPL’s approximate Keplerian elements for 3000 BC–3000 AD, the same model as the distance table. JPL’s nominal distance error for Mercury on that fit is about 1,000 km, far smaller than the orbital swing. Mercury’s year is about 88 days, which is why the number moves quickly. Closest approach is a poor time to look: Mercury is then lost in the Sun’s glare. Use planets visible tonight for whether it is in the evening sky, the morning sky, or too close to the Sun.

Other distances

Back to every body on the distance table. The same clock also fills these pages:

• Sun
• Moon
• Mercury
• Venus
• Mars
• Jupiter
• Saturn
• Uranus
• Neptune
• Pluto

Frequently asked questions

How far is Mercury from Earth right now?

The figure is the centre-to-centre distance at the time shown. It uses JPL’s approximate Keplerian elements for 3000 BC–3000 AD, with a nominal distance error of about 1,000 km. It is not a JPL Horizons ephemeris.

What is the closest and farthest Mercury gets?

NASA’s Mercury Fact Sheet lists a minimum of 77.3 million km and a maximum of 221.9 million km. The minimum falls near inferior conjunction. The maximum falls near superior conjunction, with Mercury behind the Sun.

Why does Mercury’s distance change so quickly?

Mercury has the shortest year of the eight planets, about 88 days, and the most eccentric orbit among them. The Earth–Mercury gap can change by millions of kilometres within a few days.

Is Mercury easiest to see when it is closest?

No. The closest approaches happen beside the Sun in the sky. Mercury is easiest to see when it stands well east or west of the Sun, in twilight, not when the distance is at its minimum.

Sources: JPL Approximate Positions of the Planets · NASA Mercury Fact Sheet for the 77.3 and 221.9 million km range.