Elusive Mercury

Hi all,
Finding Mercury with the naked eye is a challenge which can be assisted by
knowing exactly where to look and when to search for it in the sky. Over
Easter time is a good time for us in the UK. The following times are for
Sheffield South Yorkshire, other places should make adjustments to these
times for sunset time.
The Sun sets at 19 40 BST at 280 degrees from the North (measured
clockwise). So it is 10 degrees further towards north than due west. So
watch for a clear view of the western horizon for where the Sun sets (take
care not to stare at the Sun for long as you will cause pain and possible
eye damage). 1 hour later Venus and Mercury lie about 7 degrees above this
point. The Sun is now 8 degrees below the horizon and the sky should be dark
enough to find Venus quite easily.
Once you have found Venus Mercury is 3 degrees to the right of Venus. If
you extend your palm at arms length with your fingers closed your 4 fingers
will span about 7 degrees. So small finger on horizon and top finger will
show height of both planets above horizon. Venus is much brighter than
Mercury but if you look in the correct place you will find it. If you still
cannot find Mercury use binoculars to locate Venus and place Venus at the
left hand side of the field and Mercury should be visible close to the
right hand side of the field of view. Do not use binoculars until the Sun
has been set for at least 30 minutes.
The relative positions of Venus and Mercury are fairly constant over the
following 7 days so there is a band of observing availability to catch sight
of Mercury, however Mercury starts to fade in brightness so the earlier you
start to catch it over Easter the easier it will be. If you fail at least
you can watch Venus start to come into view earlier as the year progresses
by watching where it appears higher each night 1 hour after sunset each
night.

In uk.sci.astronomy message , Mon, 29
Mar 2010 13:03:09, CJ posted:

Finding Mercury with the naked eye is a challenge which can be assisted
by knowing exactly where to look and when to search for it in the sky.
Over Easter time is a good time for us in the UK.

Not if one believes the UK weather forecast at
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/uk_forecast_weather.html.

http://www.heavens-above.com/skychar...53&lng=-1&loc=
Home&alt=100000&tz=GMT
may help, if fed with appropriate Alt Lat Long date time.

Leaving blank lines between paragraphs aids legibility.

--
(c) John Stockton, nr London, UK. Turnpike v6.05 MIME.
Web URL:http://www.merlyn.demon.co.uk/ - FAQqish topics, acronyms & links;
Astro stuff via astron-1.htm, gravity0.htm ; quotings.htm, pascal.htm, etc.
No Encoding. Quotes before replies. Snip well. Write clearly. Don't Mail News.

"Dr J R Stockton" wrote in message
nvalid...
In uk.sci.astronomy message , Mon, 29
Mar 2010 13:03:09, CJ posted:

Finding Mercury with the naked eye is a challenge which can be assisted
by knowing exactly where to look and when to search for it in the sky.
Over Easter time is a good time for us in the UK.

Not if one believes the UK weather forecast at
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/uk_forecast_weather.html.

http://www.heavens-above.com/skychar...53&lng=-1&loc=
Home&alt=100000&tz=GMT
may help, if fed with appropriate Alt Lat Long date time.

Leaving blank lines between paragraphs aids legibility.

--
(c) John Stockton, nr London, UK. Turnpike v6.05
MIME.
Web URL:http://www.merlyn.demon.co.uk/ - FAQqish topics, acronyms &
links;
Astro stuff via astron-1.htm, gravity0.htm ; quotings.htm, pascal.htm,
etc.
No Encoding. Quotes before replies. Snip well. Write clearly. Don't Mail
News.

Thanks for the info on heavens above and in future I shall take note of
paragraph spacing. Please forgive a novice poster for this mistake.

CJ wrote:

Hi all,
Finding Mercury with the naked eye is a challenge which can be assisted by
knowing exactly where to look and when to search for it in the sky. Over
Easter time is a good time for us in the UK. The following times are for
Sheffield South Yorkshire, other places should make adjustments to these
times for sunset time.
The Sun sets at 19 40 BST at 280 degrees from the North (measured
clockwise). So it is 10 degrees further towards north than due west. So
watch for a clear view of the western horizon for where the Sun sets (take
care not to stare at the Sun for long as you will cause pain and possible
eye damage). 1 hour later Venus and Mercury lie about 7 degrees above this
point. The Sun is now 8 degrees below the horizon and the sky should be dark
enough to find Venus quite easily.
Once you have found Venus Mercury is 3 degrees to the right of Venus. If
you extend your palm at arms length with your fingers closed your 4 fingers
will span about 7 degrees. So small finger on horizon and top finger will
show height of both planets above horizon. Venus is much brighter than
Mercury but if you look in the correct place you will find it. If you still
cannot find Mercury use binoculars to locate Venus and place Venus at the
left hand side of the field and Mercury should be visible close to the
right hand side of the field of view. Do not use binoculars until the Sun
has been set for at least 30 minutes.
The relative positions of Venus and Mercury are fairly constant over the
following 7 days so there is a band of observing availability to catch sight
of Mercury, however Mercury starts to fade in brightness so the earlier you
start to catch it over Easter the easier it will be. If you fail at least
you can watch Venus start to come into view earlier as the year progresses
by watching where it appears higher each night 1 hour after sunset each
night.



Rather to my surprise and contrary to the weather forecast, the western
sky was almost clear where I live yesterday evening just after sunset
and Mercury was clearly visible even to the naked eye.

First time I've seen Mercury from the UK - thanks for the information.

Larry

"Larry Stoter" wrote in message
...
CJ wrote:

Hi all,
Finding Mercury with the naked eye is a challenge which can be assisted
by
knowing exactly where to look and when to search for it in the sky. Over
Easter time is a good time for us in the UK. The following times are for
Sheffield South Yorkshire, other places should make adjustments to these
times for sunset time.
The Sun sets at 19 40 BST at 280 degrees from the North (measured
clockwise). So it is 10 degrees further towards north than due west. So
watch for a clear view of the western horizon for where the Sun sets
(take
care not to stare at the Sun for long as you will cause pain and possible
eye damage). 1 hour later Venus and Mercury lie about 7 degrees above
this
point. The Sun is now 8 degrees below the horizon and the sky should be
dark
enough to find Venus quite easily.
Once you have found Venus Mercury is 3 degrees to the right of Venus. If
you extend your palm at arms length with your fingers closed your 4
fingers
will span about 7 degrees. So small finger on horizon and top finger
will
show height of both planets above horizon. Venus is much brighter than
Mercury but if you look in the correct place you will find it. If you
still
cannot find Mercury use binoculars to locate Venus and place Venus at
the
left hand side of the field and Mercury should be visible close to the
right hand side of the field of view. Do not use binoculars until the Sun
has been set for at least 30 minutes.
The relative positions of Venus and Mercury are fairly constant over the
following 7 days so there is a band of observing availability to catch
sight
of Mercury, however Mercury starts to fade in brightness so the earlier
you
start to catch it over Easter the easier it will be. If you fail at least
you can watch Venus start to come into view earlier as the year
progresses
by watching where it appears higher each night 1 hour after sunset each
night.



Rather to my surprise and contrary to the weather forecast, the western
sky was almost clear where I live yesterday evening just after sunset
and Mercury was clearly visible even to the naked eye.

First time I've seen Mercury from the UK - thanks for the information.

Larry

It is knowing where to look, also when to look that makes observing Mercury
much easier to find. There has to be a bright object such as the crescent
Moon or Venus to guide you to the approximate position. Conventionally you
are told to wait for maximum elongation but at this point mid April ,Mercury
is 1.3 magnitudes fainter than now. It is not much less in separation from
the Sun now so is easier to spot in the twilight sky as it is much brighter.