The distance between Mercury and the Sun varies because Mercury's orbit is elliptical, not perfectly circular.

Here are the key distances:

* Average Distance: 57.9 million kilometers (36 million miles)

* Perihelion (closest point): 46 million kilometers (28.6 million miles)

* Aphelion (farthest point): 69.8 million kilometers (43.4 million miles)

It's worth noting that these are just average figures, and the actual distance can vary slightly due to factors like gravitational influence from other planets.