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General Astronomy >> General Observing and Astronomy

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csa/montana
Den Mama

Reged: 05/14/05

Loc: montana

Mercury new

#5670678 - 02/09/13 12:46 PM

Don't forget to look West tonight, just after sunset to see Mercury just below the moon. Mars is just below Mercury, also.

Post Extras:

germana1
sage

Reged: 05/14/09

Loc: New Jersey

Re: Mercury new

[Re: csa/montana]
#5670681 - 02/09/13 12:50 PM

Thanks for the heads up ill be looking
Pete

Post Extras:

Qwickdraw
sage

Reged: 03/03/12

Loc: Ann Arbor, Mi

Re: Mercury new

[Re: germana1]
#5670845 - 02/09/13 02:26 PM

Believe it or not in my 20 years of observing I have never seen Mercury in a telescope or unaided visually. I know it is elusive and have only attemped a look a couple of times. It is the only planet left that I have not seen so I will make sure I see it before summer is over.

Post Extras:

Qwickdraw
sage

Reged: 03/03/12

Loc: Ann Arbor, Mi

Re: Mercury new

[Re: germana1]
#5670846 - 02/09/13 02:26 PM

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Dennis_S253
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 11/22/11

Loc: West Central Florida

Re: Mercury new

[Re: Qwickdraw]
#5670994 - 02/09/13 04:28 PM

Thx for the heads up Carol.

Post Extras:

steveyo
member

Reged: 03/13/12

Loc: Upstate NY

Re: Mercury new

[Re: csa/montana]
#5671322 - 02/09/13 07:52 PM

Carol -

Thanks so much for pointing out this conjunction! My 12 y.o. son Denali and I drove over to a nearby spot with a good, low western horizon. Standing in the cold at about 6PM, just after sunset, we each scanned with a pair of binos.

From Stellarium, I knew it should be about 5 degrees up in the WSW, but it took a couple minutes to spot Mercury and Mars, within a degree or so of each other. He was getting cold and seemed like he might want to give up, but he was really psyched when we did spot them.

It was a special father-son moment, and it's a rare treat to see Mercury!

Post Extras:

faackanders2
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 03/28/11

Re: Mercury new

[Re: steveyo]
#5671376 - 02/09/13 08:23 PM

Quote:

Carol -

Thanks so much for pointing out this conjunction! My 12 y.o. son Denali and I drove over to a nearby spot with a good, low western horizon. Standing in the cold at about 6PM, just after sunset, we each scanned with a pair of binos.

From Stellarium, I knew it should be about 5 degrees up in the WSW, but it took a couple minutes to spot Mercury and Mars, within a degree or so of each other. He was getting cold and seemed like he might want to give up, but he was really psyched when we did spot them.

It was a special father-son moment, and it's a rare treat to see Mercury!

Glad you and your son could see both Mercury and Mars in same FOV together. Unfortunately I fogot and when I remembered (found out again) they had alredy set. [list]

Post Extras:

csa/montana
Den Mama

Reged: 05/14/05

Loc: montana

Re: Mercury new

[Re: steveyo]
#5671395 - 02/09/13 08:39 PM

Congratulations to you & your son! This is a special moment for both of you; so glad you got to see them!

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csa/montana
Den Mama

Reged: 05/14/05

Loc: montana

Re: Mercury new

[Re: Dennis_S253]
#5671399 - 02/09/13 08:41 PM

Dennis, you're most welcome also!

Post Extras:

Ira
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 08/22/10

Loc: Mitzpe Ramon, Israel

Re: Mercury new

[Re: csa/montana]
#5671493 - 02/09/13 10:07 PM Attachment (11 downloads)

Photo from Feb. 7, 17:15 UT

Edited by Ira (02/09/13 10:18 PM)

Post Extras:

Ira
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 08/22/10

Loc: Mitzpe Ramon, Israel

Re: Mercury new

[Re: Qwickdraw]
#5671501 - 02/09/13 10:16 PM

Quote:

Believe it or not in my 20 years of observing I have never seen Mercury in a telescope or unaided visually. I know it is elusive and have only attemped a look a couple of times. It is the only planet left that I have not seen so I will make sure I see it before summer is over.

Don't feel too bad. Copernicus never saw it in his lifetime.

/Ira

Post Extras:

Jon Isaacs
Postmaster

Reged: 06/16/04

Loc: San Diego and Boulevard, CA

Re: Mercury new

[Re: Ira]
#5671959 - 02/10/13 08:33 AM

Carol:

Thanks for the reminder. Curt Renz posts a heads up in the planetary forum as well. Mercury is a favorite of mine.. It's a great way to begin an evening, trying to pick Mercury out of the sunset. I find it using a widefield refractor and a digital level with alt-az data from Sky Safari.

When Mercury is in it's crescent phase, it is possible to see the phase, it's difficult because it is so low on the horizon, I am looking looking through a lot of air but it can definitely be seen if the seeing allows.

Carol: Can you see Mercury from your place? If I remember correctly, you have a slope to the west that blocks your view of the western horizon.

Jon

Edited by Jon Isaacs (02/10/13 08:35 AM)

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csa/montana
Den Mama

Reged: 05/14/05

Loc: montana

Re: Mercury new

[Re: Jon Isaacs]
#5672077 - 02/10/13 10:03 AM

No Jon; my Western horizon is blocked by a large hill. But I didn't want others to miss seeing Mercury!

Post Extras:

bherv
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 03/10/06

Loc: WMass

Re: Mercury new

[Re: csa/montana]
#5672154 - 02/10/13 11:16 AM

Shortly after sunset tonight, the crescent moon will be below and to the right of Mercury and Mars. It may be possible to spot it with binoculars. From the east coast the moon is only 15 hours old. Spotting it will be a challenge. I may try to find a spot to see if I can get a glimpse. Tomorrow evening the moon will be above Mars and Mercury.
Barry

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Special Ed
Postmaster

Reged: 05/18/03

Loc: Greenbrier Co., WV 38N, 80W

Re: Mercury new

[Re: bherv]
#5672260 - 02/10/13 12:19 PM

Nice pic, Ira.

Like Carol I have a ridge to my west and it is a project to find a clear view of the western horizon. Luckily, I got to see this watercolor view from France posted in the Sketching Forum.

Post Extras:

Qwickdraw
sage

Reged: 03/03/12

Loc: Ann Arbor, Mi

Re: Mercury new

[Re: Special Ed]
#5672366 - 02/10/13 01:26 PM

I think I will need to climb up on my roof.

Post Extras:

Dave Mitsky
Postmaster

Reged: 04/08/02

Loc: PA, USA, Planet Earth

Re: Mercury new

[Re: Qwickdraw]
#5672776 - 02/10/13 05:57 PM

While on my way to the best "local" (a 90 minute drive) dark site yesterday evening, I pulled over to have a look at Mercury. It was just above a ridgetop and was easily visible to the naked-eye. I scanned the area with an 8x42 binocular but Mars probably had slipped behind the ridgetop by the time I'd found a safe place to stop.

Dave Mitsky

Post Extras:

bherv
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 03/10/06

Loc: WMass

Re: Mercury new

[Re: Dave Mitsky]
#5672881 - 02/10/13 07:05 PM

Spotted Mercury and Mars while hunting for the 15.5 hour old moon, which I also spotted with binoculars.
Barry

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ROBERT FREE
super member

Reged: 03/20/11

Re: Mercury [Re: bherv]
#5672910 - 02/10/13 07:25 PM

hi all,i have a thread on mercury in the planet section, i observe in daylite with my telescope.right now mercury is in the half phase mag -1.0 and some useful info. an this is a nice thread also.clear skies

Edited by ROBERT FREE (02/10/13 07:28 PM)

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