[merged] May 9th’s Transit of Mercury

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Get Ready for May 9th’s Transit of Mercury

It doesn't happen often, but soon you'll be able to "spot the spot" — Mercury's silhouette — as the innermost planet crosses the Sun's disk.

As we ride this merry-go-round called Earth, we're often oblivious to the sky at night. The full Moon makes its monthly appearance, but light pollution in large cities has overwhelmed the stars, so little else can be seen.

But we earthlings can be even more unaware of the daytime ballet of the Moon and planets. If you've ever heard someone say, "Really, the Moon can be up in the daytime?" you know what I mean. The Sun rules the day, and even that bright orb is usually remarked upon only when it produces a colorful sunset.

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Mercury set to flit across the Sun

Skywatchers across the globe will see Mercury transit the Sun on Monday.

The Solar System's smallest planet will pass directly between Earth and our star from around 11:12 GMT to 18:42.

Such a transit only rolls around 13 or 14 times each century; the next occasions will be in 2019 and 2032.

The event is impossible - and dangerous - to view with the naked eye or binoculars, but astronomy groups worldwide will offer a chance to view it through filtered telescopes.

Views from space and ground telescopes will also be live-streamed online.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-36228327

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NASA's SDO Captures Mercury Transit Time-lapse

Less than once per decade, Mercury passes between the Earth and the sun in a rare astronomical event known as a planetary transit. The 2016 Mercury transit occurred on May 9th, between roughly 7:12 a.m. and 2:42 p.m. EDT.

Credit: NASA Goddard

Source: NASA Goddard - YouTube Channel