Who and when discovered Mercury as a planet?

Answer 1

Mercury was known to the ancients.

Answer 2

As the history of Mercury (planet) is extensive, a related link was placed right below.

For mercury ( element) there are the following informations taken from Wikipedia:

1) mercury was found in egyptians tombs (1500 BC)

2) In China and Tibet, mercury use was thought to prolong life.

3) Ancient Greeks used mercury in ointments. Egyptians and Romans used it in cosmetics.

4) In the Maya civilization, a pool or mercury was found.

5)By 500BC mercury was used to make amalgams (alloy of mercury)

6)Alchemists thought of mercury as the "First Matter" from which all metals are formed.

You can notice that the history of mercury(element) is not clear or precise, being difficult to determine exactly how and when it was discovered.

Answer 3

Mercury as a planet has been known since ancient times, with no specific individual identified as its sole discoverer. It has been visible to the naked eye and was observed by many ancient civilizations, including the Babylonians, Greeks, and Egyptians.

Answer 4

Mercury was discovered many thousands of years ago. It can be seen from Earth by the naked eye. The first person to look at Mercury through a telescope was Galileo, in the 17th century.