Simultaneous transits of Venus and Mercury?

Is it possible for Venus and Mercury to be transiting the sun at the same
time? Assuming the two orbits are independent of each other, it should
occur (though extremely rarely: millions of years between double transits
probably or something like that).

Thanks in advance,

ACG

CeeBee writes:

Andrew Goldish wrote:

Is it possible for Venus and Mercury to be transiting the sun at the
same time? Assuming the two orbits are independent of each other, it
should occur (though extremely rarely: millions of years between
double transits probably or something like that).

You're right. What should be the problem preventing the two passing the
Sun simultaneuosly as seen from Earth?

The problem that currently prevents it is the non-alignment of the
nodes of Mercury's and Venus' orbits. I do not know their precession
rates, so I'm not in a position to say how long it might be before
the nodes are aligned. But for such a thing to happen, you'd need
(a) the nodes aligned to within some tight tolerance, (b) both
planets near their nodes at approximately the same time, (c) both
planets on the same side of the Sun, (d) the Earth aligned with both
planets at that time. I wouldn't be surprised if it's never happened
in the 4.5 billion year history of the Solar System.

Is it possible for Venus and Mercury to be transiting the sun at the =
same
time?


How about a Venus/Mercury transit during a solar eclipse? Now that's got =
to be rare.

;-)

-Florian

Florian wrote:

Is it possible for Venus and Mercury to be transiting the sun at the same
time?

How about a Venus/Mercury transit during a solar eclipse? Now that's got to be rare.

;-)

-Florian

During a rainstorm! :-(

wrote:
The problem that currently prevents it is the non-alignment of the
nodes of Mercury's and Venus' orbits. I do not know their precession
rates, so I'm not in a position to say how long it might be before
the nodes are aligned. But for such a thing to happen, you'd need
(a) the nodes aligned to within some tight tolerance, (b) both
planets near their nodes at approximately the same time, (c) both
planets on the same side of the Sun, (d) the Earth aligned with both
planets at that time. I wouldn't be surprised if it's never happened
in the 4.5 billion year history of the Solar System.


Well then, we'll just have to wait.

"Andrew Goldish" wrote in message
...
Is it possible for Venus and Mercury to be transiting the sun at the
same
time? Assuming the two orbits are independent of each other, it should
occur (though extremely rarely: millions of years between double transits
probably or something like that).

Yes, it is possible, and it is not millions of years. There is an article
"Simultaneous Transits," by J. Meeus and A. Vitagliano in the June issue
Journal British Astronomical Association. They found two in the years 1 to
300,000, both well into the future.

Clear skies, Alan

"Sam Wormley" wrote in message
...
Florian wrote:

Is it possible for Venus and Mercury to be transiting the sun at the
same
time?

How about a Venus/Mercury transit during a solar eclipse? Now that's got
to be rare.

;-)

-Florian

During a rainstorm! :-(

"Florian" wrote in message
...
Is it possible for Venus and Mercury to be transiting the sun at the same
time?

How about a Venus/Mercury transit during a solar eclipse? Now that's got to
be rare.

Florian,

Yes. Also covered in "Simultaneous Transits," by J. Meeus and A.
Vitagliano, in the June issue of the Journal British Astronomical
Association.

Clear skies, Alan

Sam Wormley wrote:

How about a Venus/Mercury transit during a solar eclipse? Now that's got to be rare.

Rare?? That would be very sad! The stupid Moon would make
us miss the rarest, once-in-a-lifetime event that is Venus
and Mercury transiting at the same time ;-)

Because I tell you -- if that ever happens, Murphy will be
there to guarantee that the eclipse will last at least 8
hours! ;-)

Carlos
--

Rare?

You want RARE?

How about a transit of both mercury and venus "across" the sun at the same
time...

But ALSO....

Its during a nearly perfect barely ANNULAR/TOTAL solar eclispe (the rarest of
em..... a small fraction of the solar eclipse family)....in other words the
moon is neither too big or too small but instead just the right size...

Mecury and Venus both pass directly across the apparent center (or very near)
of the suns disk from as viewed from somewhere on earth....

AND

Both Mercury and Venus cross the "center" of the sun at the same time....

.....or in other words Venus "eclipses" both Mercury and the Sun as Mercury is
transiting the Sun and the Moon is eclipsing ALL three of em.....

And heck....throw in a centered ISS transit just for good measure

take care

Blll