Apart from the effects of other planets, the orbit of Mercury precesses because
A)Mercury travels faster than any other planet.
B)Mercury's orbit is nearly circular.
C)of pronounced variations in Mercury's orbit about the Sun.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Mercury's orbit is not perfectly circular and varies in shape due to the gravitational influence of the other planets. As a result, its elliptical orbit rotates slowly around the Sun, causing its perihelion (closest point to the Sun) to move gradually over time. This is known as precession.

Apart from the Effects of Other Planets, the Orbit of Mercury