I recently had the opportunity to observe the planet Mercury through a telescope, and the experience was truly awe-inspiring. As the closest planet to the Sun, Mercury can sometimes be seen from Earth, although it is often challenging to observe due to its proximity to the Sun's glare. Using a powerful telescope fitted with a solar filter, I was able to get a clear view of this small, rocky planet. The first thing that struck me was its proximity to the Sun. Mercury appeared as a small, round disc, seemingly floating close to the blazing solar disk. This close proximity to the Sun means that Mercury has extremely high temperatures, with surface temperatures reaching up to 800 degrees Fahrenheit during the day.
The reason this event is so rare is because Mercury orbits the sun at a different angle than Earth. While the small planet's short tilted orbit means it crosses between Earth and the sun every 116 days, it usually appears to pass either below or above, the Royal Astronomical Society reports. A transit can only take place when Mercury, Earth and the sun are perfectly aligned in three-dimensional space.
A lot has changed since November 8, 2006, the last time time Mercury passed directly between the Earth and the sun Pluto had recently been demoted to dwarf planet, George W. The flyby , which took place on Monday June 19 , saw BepiColombo whizz merely 150 miles 236 kilometers above the surface of the scorching innermost planet of the solar system.
This close proximity to the Sun means that Mercury has extremely high temperatures, with surface temperatures reaching up to 800 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. Despite its close proximity to the Sun, Mercury does not have any atmosphere to retain its heat. This means that night-time temperatures on the planet can drop to a bone-chilling -290 degrees Fahrenheit.
For The First Time in a Decade, Watch Mercury Cross the Sun’s Face
A lot has changed since November 8, 2006, the last time time Mercury passed directly between the Earth and the sun: Pluto had recently been "demoted" to dwarf planet, George W. Bush was still president of the United States, and Daniel Craig had yet to debut as the new James Bond in Casino Royale. Nearly 10 years later, on May 9, Mercury's orbit will once again draw the planet in between the Earth and the sun, making the small planet visible against the star's fiery glow.
While it won’t be as dramatic as a total solar eclipse, the transit of Mercury is one of this year’s most awaited astronomical events. According to NASA, this event only occurs around 13 times per century. The next transit won’t happen until 2019.
The reason this event is so rare is because Mercury orbits the sun at a different angle than Earth. While the small planet's short tilted orbit means it crosses between Earth and the sun every 116 days, it usually appears to pass either below or above, the Royal Astronomical Society reports. A transit can only take place when Mercury, Earth and the sun are perfectly aligned in three-dimensional space.
The transit will officially begin at 7:12 A.M. on May 9 and will take 7.5 hours for Mercury to complete the venture across the sun’s face. Over the course of the event, it will be visible from nearly everywhere on Earth at some point during the day. People in parts of western Europe and Africa, eastern North America, and most of South America will be able to watch the entire transit, given the proper equipment, Geoff Gaherty writes for Space.com.
Mercury isn’t the only planet to transit across the sun’s surface occasionally—Venus does as well. However, because Venus has a larger orbit than Mercury and also orbits at a different angle from the Earth, the planet transits in front of the sun fewer than two times per century, Gaherty reports. The last time Venus passed across the sun’s face was in 2012; its next transit won’t occur until 2117.
A word to the wise: because Mercury is only a tiny fraction of the size of the sun, it won’t be visible to the naked eye or even with binoculars. And directly observing the sun is dangerous. Only people with the proper equipment should attempt to watch the transit directly, warns the Washington Post’s Blaine Friedlander, Jr. If you try to look right at the sun with a bare telescope or binoculars, the intensity of the light will blind you.
Luckily, NASA will post live images of the transit as it occurs, and Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics partnered with Sky and Telescope to broadcast a livestream of the event, including live images from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory spacecraft. However you choose to watch it (and provided it’s not a cloudy day), the transit of Mercury should be a stunning sight to see.
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Danny Lewis is a multimedia journalist working in print, radio, and illustration. He focuses on stories with a health/science bent and has reported some of his favorite pieces from the prow of a canoe. Danny is based in Brooklyn, NY.
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The stark contrast in temperatures on Mercury is remarkable and makes it one of the most extreme environments in our solar system. As I continued to observe Mercury, I couldn't help but notice its surface features. The planet's surface is covered in craters, similar to the Moon. These impact craters are a result of countless collisions with asteroids and comets over billions of years. The largest of these craters, called the Caloris Basin, is so vast that it measures around 960 miles across. In addition to craters, Mercury also has long, winding cliffs known as scarps. These scarps were formed when the planet's crust cooled and contracted, causing it to fracture and create cliffs. Some of the scarps on Mercury extend for hundreds of miles, creating a mesmerizing and rugged terrain. Despite its harsh conditions, Mercury has been visited by spacecraft. NASA's Messenger mission, which concluded in 2015, provided valuable insights into this mysterious planet. The mission confirmed the presence of water ice at the poles of Mercury, tucked away in permanently shadowed craters. This discovery was unexpected and raised questions about the origins of these ice deposits. Observing Mercury through a telescope was a truly unforgettable experience. To witness this small, mysterious planet up-close and explore its surface features was both humbling and inspiring. As our understanding of Mercury continues to grow, it reminds us of the vastness and complexity of our solar system..
Reviews for "A Watch from Mercury: An Astronomical Tool"
1. Mark - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "A Watch from Mercury". The story was confusing and the characters were difficult to connect with. The plot seemed to jump around aimlessly, making it hard to follow along. Additionally, the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. Overall, I found the book to be a tedious read, and I wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. Emily - 3/5 stars - While "A Watch from Mercury" had an interesting concept, I felt that the execution fell short. The pacing was slow, and I found myself losing interest multiple times throughout the book. The author seemed to focus more on describing the world and setting, rather than developing the characters and advancing the plot. I wanted to like this book more, but ultimately it didn't fully engage me.
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I had high expectations for "A Watch from Mercury", but unfortunately, I found it to be quite underwhelming. The story had potential, but the writing style was overly flowery and convoluted. It felt like the author was trying too hard to be poetic, which hindered my understanding of the plot. Additionally, the characters lacked depth and felt one-dimensional. Overall, I was left unsatisfied with this book.