Mercury Rising
March 23rd 2011 04:26
Category: Planets
Mercury NASA image
Planet Mercury has been in the news recently after the successful mission ended with the space probe Messenger reaching Mercury and forming a successful stable orbit around the planet.
Look to the West just after sunset
Mercury and our Moon look almost the same they have similar surface characteristics. Mercury has perhaps a bit more of an atmosphere than our Moon. Mercury being closer to the Sun is hellishly hot
Mercury's temperatures can fluctuate between -279 Fahrenheit -173 Celsius at night to 801 Fahrenheit 427 Celsius during the day hot enough to melt lead!.
I have prepared a shot animation as guide
Messenger ended its Wild West tour after travelling through space for the past 6 years.
In order to get the space probe to Mercury it had to perform one flyby of Earth, two of Venus, and three of Mercury itself just to get the probe at the right attitude and distance from the planet.
Planet Mercury is perhaps the most elusive planet to spot. For the most part Mercury is pretty iniquitous. And if you did manage to see it would look like an ordinary star. Some people will see Mercury and wont not even notice.
Mercury is actually extremely easy to see, as long as you know exactly when and where to look.
Planet Jupiter can also be seen in the West just after sunset and you can use Jupiter as a guide because it is a little brighter than Mercury just after sunset.
Make a mental note where the Sun has just set, and then start slowly looking above the horizon and you will see Jupiter. Now look slightly above and to the left of Jupiter Mercury can be seen just above Jupiter.
If you reside in the Northern Hemisphere your in luck. If you one of those people like me who prefer to go out in the evening rather than before sunrise, then March is your best time to get a glimpse of Mercury.
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You wont need any fancy lenses just a pair of eyes will do. Mercury's be at it’s highest this month but you need to be quick. From March 25th, onwards Mercury will sink very rapidly back toward the Sun.
By the end of March the Sun’s light will be too bright making it harder to spot Mercury.
Why not check out Mercury now while you have the chance.
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