a 
x THE STARRY HEAVENS 389 
know for certain, Mercury is the one nearest 
to the Sun, its average distance being 
36,000,000 miles. It is much smaller than 
the Earth, its weight being only about vith 
-_-——— ne 
Pees mor wee memes a. 
_--—— =~ 
pee 165 yer; 
see scare 
_--*Neptune i 
ae ‘ 
ee ars RE Ss 
wee gaye “a 
= ~ 
ai ae 
gyeat® sorenemes Saturn 
= oy 
7 ni aS 
sicaget Pigeon 12 ea 
fi aweras One a 
% 
we Mars eo 
pes. yw 
ine } 
wy 
Fig. 52.— Relative distances of the Planets from the Sun. 
of ours. Mercury is a shy though beautiful 
object, for being so near the Sun it is not 
easily visible ; it may, however, generally be 
seen at some time or other during the year as 
a morning or evening star. 
