As an expert in the field of astronomy, I have a deep understanding of the celestial bodies that make up our solar system. Each planet has its unique characteristics and orbits the Sun in a specific period of time. When it comes to the planet that takes the shortest time to orbit the Sun, we are talking about the one that holds the closest proximity to our star. This planet is Mercury.

Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system, and it is also the one that is nearest to the Sun. Its orbit is elliptical in shape, which means that the distance between Mercury and the Sun varies as it travels around the Sun. Despite this, Mercury completes its orbit in an astonishingly short period of time. It takes Mercury approximately 88 days to complete a full orbit around the Sun, which is significantly less than the time it takes for any other planet to do so.

This rapid orbit can be attributed to several factors. The most significant of these is **Kepler's Third Law of Planetary Motion**, which states that the square of the orbital period of a planet is directly proportional to the cube of the semi-major axis of its orbit. Since Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun, it has the smallest semi-major axis of its orbit, which results in the shortest orbital period.

Another factor that contributes to Mercury's quick orbit is its lack of significant atmosphere. Planets with thick atmospheres, like Earth, experience atmospheric drag, which can slow down their orbital speed. Mercury, on the other hand, has virtually no atmosphere to speak of, allowing it to zip around the Sun without any significant drag.

It's also worth noting that Mercury's proximity to the Sun results in extreme temperature variations. The side of Mercury that faces the Sun can become extremely hot, while the side that is turned away can become incredibly cold. This is due to the lack of an atmosphere to distribute heat evenly across the planet's surface.

In contrast, Venus, which is the second planet from the Sun, has a much longer orbital period. Venus takes approximately 225 days to orbit the Sun. It is known for its thick, toxic atmosphere and its surface is covered with thousands of volcanoes. The atmospheric pressure on Venus is also extremely high, which contributes to the planet's high surface temperature, making it one of the hottest planets in the solar system, even hotter than Mercury.

In conclusion, Mercury is the planet that takes the shortest time to orbit the sun, completing its orbit in just 88 days. Its close proximity to the Sun, elliptical orbit, lack of significant atmosphere, and the laws of planetary motion all contribute to this unique characteristic.

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The Solar System. Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun. It has the shortest orbit of all--it goes around the Sun in only 88 days. Venus is a scorching, fiery planet with thousands of volcanoes.read more >>