· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt · Submit a Review / Article Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Astrophotography and Sketching >> Sketching Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 CarlosEH Postmaster Reged: 01/19/05 Loc: Pembroke Pines, Broward County... Mercury Observation (August 22, 2009)       #3290248 - 08/23/09 10:52 PM Attachment (71 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I was able to make a daytime observation of Mercury on August 22, 2009 (20:00 U.T.) using an 8-inch (20-cm) F/15 Maksutov-Cassegrain (286x). I was with a friend and suggested that we try hunting Mercury down in the daytime sky. There was a thin haze in the daytime sky so we thought that we may not be able to see it. We first centered his instrument (fitted with a solar filter) on the Sun then offset it by approximately two hours in right ascension (RA) and Mercury was in the field. Mercury was visible at a quarter phase (55%) and albedo features were noted over the illuminated disk. My observation reminded me of the historic observations made by Antoniadi and Schiaparelli over the end of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century. These classic astronomers made their observations of Mercury in the daytime as observing this planet is difficult in a darkened sky as it is never more than 28 degrees from the Sun. Schiaparelli and Antoniadi erroneously believed that the rotation period of Mercury was 88 days (instead of 58.6 days) and therefore locked in with it's revolution period. It was not until 1965 when the Arecibo radio telescope discovered the true rotation period. A digital image produced in Photoshop CS3. Links: http://history.nasa.gov/SP-423/surface.htm http://www.take27.co.uk/BAA_MV/MVMercury2.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_(planet) BE CAREFUL TO NEVER OBSERVE MERCURY IN THE DAYTIME UNLESS YOUR INSTRUMENT HAS A SOLAR FILTER PLACED UPON IT UNTIL THE PLANET IS IN THE FIELD OF VIEW! Carlos Post Extras:       Tommy5 Carpal Tunnel Reged: 03/28/04 Loc: Chicagoland Re: Mercury Observation (August 22, 2009) [Re: CarlosEH]       #3290401 - 08/24/09 12:40 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Wow great sketch, observing any albedo features on Mercury is very difficult even in in the daytime bravo. Edited by Tommy5 (08/24/09 07:52 PM) Post Extras:       HellsKitchen Pooh-Bah Reged: 09/05/08 Loc: Melbourne Australia Re: Mercury Observation (August 22, 2009) [Re: Tommy5]       #3290564 - 08/24/09 04:50 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Excellent sketch! Nice job catching the surface features. Post Extras:       JayinUT I'm not Sleepy Reged: 09/19/08 Loc: Utah Re: Mercury Observation (August 22, 2009) [Re: CarlosEH]       #3290767 - 08/24/09 09:06 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Carlos, Tremendous sketch of Mercury! Love the details. I'm envious . . . someday a solar filter. Post Extras:       frank5817 Postmaster Reged: 06/13/06 Loc: Illinois Re: Mercury Observation (August 22, 2009) [Re: JayinUT]       #3290862 - 08/24/09 10:05 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Carlos, Wow! I mean WOW! That is one very fine Mercury sketch. It has been a while since I have observed Mercury in the day time but I have never attempted a sketch. You have captured the view perfectly. Wonderful! Frank Post Extras:       Jeff Young Post Laureate Reged: 08/04/05 Loc: Ireland Re: Mercury Observation (August 22, 2009) [Re: frank5817]       #3291330 - 08/24/09 02:30 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Very cool! -- Jeff. Post Extras:       RLTYS Post Laureate Reged: 12/18/04 Loc: New York (Long Island) Re: Mercury Observation (August 22, 2009) [Re: Jeff Young]       #3292650 - 08/25/09 06:40 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Carlos WOW! That is one fantastic sketch. Have you considered sending a copy to ALPO? Rich (RLTYS) Post Extras:       CarlosEH Postmaster Reged: 01/19/05 Loc: Pembroke Pines, Broward County... Re: Mercury Observation (August 22, 2009) [Re: RLTYS]       #3292713 - 08/25/09 08:03 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thank you all for your kind compliments on my Mercury observation. I have not observed Mercury in the daytime for some time now. It was fun hunting it down as it was a challenge. Observing albedo features over Mercury is not an easy feat. Clear and steady skies are a must to detect them. The best of luck in your own observations. Rich- I always send my observations to ALPO. It is a good organization to learn about the observation of the Moon and planets. Carlos Post Extras:       rolandlinda3 Post Laureate Reged: 01/24/06 Loc: Crozet VA 22932 Re: Mercury Observation (August 22, 2009) [Re: CarlosEH]       #3292972 - 08/25/09 10:52 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Carlos, I am super impressed at the sketch and the observation. I had not considered doing this. Really really fine observation!! Post Extras:       Sol Robbins Carpal Tunnel Reged: 12/01/03 Re: Mercury Observation (August 22, 2009) [Re: rolandlinda3]       #3293205 - 08/25/09 12:51 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Carlos, Very impressive! Thanks, Post Extras:       CarlosEH Postmaster Reged: 01/19/05 Loc: Pembroke Pines, Broward County... Re: Mercury Observation (August 22, 2009) [Re: Sol Robbins]       #3293829 - 08/25/09 06:29 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Roland and Sol, Thank you both for your compliments on my Mercury observation. I had not seen Mercury in the daytime sky for some time now, but I wanted to try and search for the messenger after observing the Sun. The albedo features were easier to detect than expected. The thing is to be very careful when looking for Mercury in the daytime sky as one may accidentally sweep by the Sun unfiltered! The best of luck in your own observations. Carlos Post Extras:       kraterkid Post Laureate Reged: 03/07/05 Loc: Jacumba, California Re: Mercury Observation (August 22, 2009) [Re: CarlosEH]       #3294240 - 08/25/09 09:48 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Fantastic sketch of Mercury, Carlos! A very difficult object, rendered magnificently. Thanks for the strong warnings about the use of a solar filter until you know you have acquired Mercury. How large angularly is Mercury in this phase? Beautiful sketch and excellent report! Post Extras:       Jef De Wit Carpal Tunnel Reged: 03/06/09 Loc: Hove, Belgium Re: Mercury Observation (August 22, 2009) [Re: kraterkid]       #3295746 - 08/26/09 02:56 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   A right choice as ASOD. Congratulations! Post Extras:       Aldebaran super member Reged: 09/30/06 Loc: Turku, Finland Re: Mercury Observation (August 22, 2009) [Re: Jef De Wit]       #3295759 - 08/26/09 02:59 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Good work Carlos! It certainly isn't the easiest task in the world to see some details in Mercury! Post Extras:       CarlosEH Postmaster Reged: 01/19/05 Loc: Pembroke Pines, Broward County... Re: Mercury Observation (August 22, 2009) [Re: Aldebaran]       #3299064 - 08/28/09 12:43 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Jef, Juha, and Rich Thank you for your kind compliments on my Mercury observation. It was fun hunting for Mercury in the daytime sky. I was impressed with the amount of detail visible over the planet. Detecting albedo features over Mercury is not an easy feat even under good seeing conditions. The best of luck in your own observations. Carlos Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 0 registered and 6 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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