If you’re up before dawn at northerly latitudes, note the star Capella and the Pleiades star cluster near the eastern horizon. Bright Capella might be your ticket to catching Mercury as darkness edges toward dawn.
As darkness gives way to dawn, use the constellation Auriga, if you can, to help you locate Mercury near the horizon. Binoculars always helpful!
Best photos: Venus and Jupiter, west after sunset
Mercury, the innermost planet of the solar system, is often obscured by the sun’s glare. That’s why you sometimes hear it called the most elusive planet. But you have a chance to see Mercury before dawn now. That’s because the planet is at its greatest western (morning) elongation from the sun on June 24, 2015. On this date, Mercury is at its greatest angular distance (22o) from the rising sun on our sky’s dome. So, if you look diligently, you should be able to catch Mercury in the morning sky in late June and early July 2015. With some more luck, you might even catch the nearby star Aldebaran.
The Southern Hemisphere has the advantage for viewing this particular apparition of Mercury (and also the star Aldebaran) in the morning sky. At temperate latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere, Mercury now rises about 70 minutes before sunrise. Meanwhile, at and near the Earth’s equator, Mercury rises about 90 minutes before the sun; and at temperate latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere, the solar system’s innermost planet rises a whopping 100 minutes (or more) before sunrise.
No matter where you live, it’ll be to your advantage to find an unobstructed horizon in the direction of sunrise. Binoculars will come in handy as well – especially at more northerly latitudes.
At mid-northern latitudes, you’ll almost certainly need binoculars to spot the star Aldebaran in the same binocular field with Mercury during the next several days. Given clear skies and an unobstructed eastern horizon, people in the Southern Hemisphere will probably see both Mercury and Aldebaran with the eye alone.
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Mercury will be easier to view from the Southern Hemisphere, as it rises before dawn in that part of the world.
At present, Mercury is racing away from Earth in its smaller and swifter orbit around the sun.
Even so, Mercury is actually brightening in Earth’s sky. Why? It’s because, as Mercury’s distance from Earth increases daily, Mercury’s phase is also increasing. So Mercury will continue to brighten in the morning sky, because its increasing phase more than makes up for its greater distance from Earth.
By the way, you need a telescope (and exceptionally good seeing conditions) to view Mercury’s phases.
Although Mercury will continue to brighten until it transitions from the morning to the evening sky on July 23, 2015, there will come a time when the innermost planet sinks too close to the sun’s glare to remain visible.
Bottom line: Mercury’s greatest elongation is June 23, 2015. For a week or two afterwards, if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere, you have a reasonably good chance of catching Mercury in the morning sky. If you’re in the Southern Hemisphere, you have a very good chance. Go for it!
EarthSky astronomy kits are perfect for beginners. Order today from the EarthSky store
Donate: Your support means the world to us
from EarthSky http://ift.tt/1AJmMle
If you’re up before dawn at northerly latitudes, note the star Capella and the Pleiades star cluster near the eastern horizon. Bright Capella might be your ticket to catching Mercury as darkness edges toward dawn.
As darkness gives way to dawn, use the constellation Auriga, if you can, to help you locate Mercury near the horizon. Binoculars always helpful!
Best photos: Venus and Jupiter, west after sunset
Mercury, the innermost planet of the solar system, is often obscured by the sun’s glare. That’s why you sometimes hear it called the most elusive planet. But you have a chance to see Mercury before dawn now. That’s because the planet is at its greatest western (morning) elongation from the sun on June 24, 2015. On this date, Mercury is at its greatest angular distance (22o) from the rising sun on our sky’s dome. So, if you look diligently, you should be able to catch Mercury in the morning sky in late June and early July 2015. With some more luck, you might even catch the nearby star Aldebaran.
The Southern Hemisphere has the advantage for viewing this particular apparition of Mercury (and also the star Aldebaran) in the morning sky. At temperate latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere, Mercury now rises about 70 minutes before sunrise. Meanwhile, at and near the Earth’s equator, Mercury rises about 90 minutes before the sun; and at temperate latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere, the solar system’s innermost planet rises a whopping 100 minutes (or more) before sunrise.
No matter where you live, it’ll be to your advantage to find an unobstructed horizon in the direction of sunrise. Binoculars will come in handy as well – especially at more northerly latitudes.
At mid-northern latitudes, you’ll almost certainly need binoculars to spot the star Aldebaran in the same binocular field with Mercury during the next several days. Given clear skies and an unobstructed eastern horizon, people in the Southern Hemisphere will probably see both Mercury and Aldebaran with the eye alone.
Enjoying EarthSky so far? Sign up for our free daily newsletter today!
Mercury will be easier to view from the Southern Hemisphere, as it rises before dawn in that part of the world.
At present, Mercury is racing away from Earth in its smaller and swifter orbit around the sun.
Even so, Mercury is actually brightening in Earth’s sky. Why? It’s because, as Mercury’s distance from Earth increases daily, Mercury’s phase is also increasing. So Mercury will continue to brighten in the morning sky, because its increasing phase more than makes up for its greater distance from Earth.
By the way, you need a telescope (and exceptionally good seeing conditions) to view Mercury’s phases.
Although Mercury will continue to brighten until it transitions from the morning to the evening sky on July 23, 2015, there will come a time when the innermost planet sinks too close to the sun’s glare to remain visible.
Bottom line: Mercury’s greatest elongation is June 23, 2015. For a week or two afterwards, if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere, you have a reasonably good chance of catching Mercury in the morning sky. If you’re in the Southern Hemisphere, you have a very good chance. Go for it!
EarthSky astronomy kits are perfect for beginners. Order today from the EarthSky store
Donate: Your support means the world to us
from EarthSky http://ift.tt/1AJmMle
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