Mercury spins very slowly on its axis, only once every 58.6 Earth days (relative to background stars).
However, the comparatively short Mercury "year" (just 88 Earth days) has dramatic consequences for the length of the "solar day" -- sunrise to sunrise -- on the planet. A solar (apparent) day on Mercury takes 176 Earth days, which is effectively twice the length of the year. Basically, as the planet is turning, the motion around the Sun is counteracting the effect. (We see something similar on Earth, where the Moon's west-to-east orbit keeps it in the night sky longer than any of the stars.)
Mercury has the 2nd longest "sidereal day" with a sidereal rotation period of 58.646 Earth days. The longest "sidereal day" day is Venus, with a sidereal rotation period of 243.018 Earth daysIf you use the "solar day" as your definition of "day", the order is reversed. Mercury then has the longest day and Venus has the second longest day.
The sidereal rotation period of Mars - one spin on its axis relative to background stars, is 24.623 hours. This is very similar to the earths sidereal rotation period.
In the time it takes Mercury to complete one rotation, Neptune rotates 87.37 times.
Mercury's period of rotation, or the time it takes to complete one full rotation on its axis, is 58.6 Earth days. Its period of revolution, or the time it takes to orbit the Sun, is about 88 Earth days. This means that one day on Mercury (rotation) is longer than one year on Mercury (revolution).
The planet Mercury has a day that is almost the same length as its year. Mercury's rotation period is about 59 Earth days, which is very close to its orbital period around the Sun of about 88 Earth days. This means that one day on Mercury is almost as long as one year on Mercury.
Mercury has the 2nd longest "sidereal day" with a sidereal rotation period of 58.646 Earth days. The longest "sidereal day" day is Venus, with a sidereal rotation period of 243.018 Earth daysIf you use the "solar day" as your definition of "day", the order is reversed. Mercury then has the longest day and Venus has the second longest day.
The sidereal rotation period is 9.925 hours
Sidereal Rotation: 58.646 earth daysRevolution: 87.97 days.
0.3781 days.
A Mercury day (sidereal rotation period) is 58.646 earth days = 1407.5 hours.
The sun has two types of period of rotation, the sidereal rotation period and the synodic rotation period. The sidereal rotation period is 24.47 days. The synodic rotation period is 26.24 days.
Year: 88 Earth days. Rotation period (sidereal day): 58.6 Earth days. Solar day: 176 Earth days.
The sidereal rotation period of Mars - one spin on its axis relative to background stars, is 24.623 hours. This is very similar to the earths sidereal rotation period.
Rotation period : about 58.5 Earth days. That's known as a "sidereal day". There is also the "solar day". That's about 176 Earth days.
A mercury day (sidereal rotation period) is 58.646 earth days = 1407.5 hours.
The rotation period of Mercury is 58.65 days.
In the time it takes Mercury to complete one rotation, Neptune rotates 87.37 times.