Guest Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 I don't know if this is rare or not as I'm not an astronomer but I'll be looking out for it on weds taken from http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20080418/sc_space/seemercurytheelusiveplanet A bright evening "star" Mercury just passed superior conjunction on April 16, but in the days to come it will bolt out to become easily visible low in the west-northwest at dusk. On Wednesday evening, April 23, Mercury should be visible within about 30 minutes after sunset if your sky is quite clear. Mercury will be shining at magnitude �1.6, slightly brighter than Sirius (the brightest of all stars). In fact, at that particular hour of the day, Mercury will be the brightest object in the sky! So, if your sky is free of any horizon haze and there are no tall obstructions to your view (like trees or buildings) you should have no trouble in seeing it as a very bright "star" shining with just a trace of a yellowish-orange tinge. By April 30, Mercury will be setting as late as 85 minutes after the Sun. That evening, binoculars may show the Pleiades star cluster 4 degrees directly above it. (Your clenched fist held at arm's length measures about 10 degrees in width.) In the evenings that follow, Mercury will slowly diminish in brightness, but it will also slowly gain altitude as it gradually moves away from the vicinity of the Sun. This is just the start of Mercury's best apparition of the year for mid-northern viewers. On the evening of May 6, be sure to look for a delicately thin sliver of a 1.5-day old crescent Moon sitting just a couple of degrees above and slightly to Mercury's right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillfamily Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 Thanks for the info Poet..........I'll let DD know :D She loves stargazing and has a little telescope. I have to record Sky at Night for her so she knows what to watch out for Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadMitch Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 Thanks for that, OH is really chuffed as he just bought a new Skywatcher telescope last week. We have now moved somewhere where there is no light polution and the sky is really awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 We should be able to see it as well - I'll have to remember! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 I'll keep an eye out for it as well. OH bought me a telescope but I must be really thick as I cant work it!! I think my problem is I don't like reading instruction books - its the same with my mobile. I just wait for the kids to explain it to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keanie Bean Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 I would love to get a chance to see this, what is 'out there' really puts persepective on life sometimes. It's such a shame as all I can see are other peoples windows in blocks of flats . I was lucky enough to look through a decent telescope at university as I was studing astrophysics it was really unbelievable stuff. Totally mind boggling. sarah.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 well, I tucked the girls up at about 8.30pm and sat in the garden for about half an hour and...................nothing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 Doh! I completely forgot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 24, 2008 Share Posted April 24, 2008 so did I I think it was a bit rainy here so probably wouldn't have seen anything anyway....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 24, 2008 Share Posted April 24, 2008 Went out with my binoculars. Couldn't see a thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goosey Lucy Posted April 24, 2008 Share Posted April 24, 2008 Too much light pollution here We need to move. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scary Mary Posted April 24, 2008 Share Posted April 24, 2008 I was really miffed as I remembered after I'd gone to bed - but it doessn't sound like I missed much Mary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...