Our solar system's smallest planet makes its best evening appearance for 2008. Mercury can be found after 8:50 p.m. and before 9:20 p.m. in the wnw. Every night until May 14th, it rises higher as it swings in its orbit away from the sun. Mercury can be seen, if the horizon is low enough and the air is clear enough, as a starlike object just above the horizon. Binoculars greatly help in the hunt.
On the evening of May 6, our thin crescent moon is placed just to Mercury's upper right. This should allow for an easier time identifying this little world.
Such is our view from Earth...
No comments:
Post a Comment