Mercury Spring 2005 Observing Opportunity

Elusive Mercury? – Not really! If you have never seen it, now’s a great chance! Start looking about 30 mts after sunset. The thin crescent Moon will be just left of, and slightly below, Mercury on the 11th: a very rare chance to see Mercury further from the Sun than the Moon! Next night it will be 12.5 above left of Mercury.

This will be the best oppertunity to see Mercury in the evening skies this year.

Thanks to Terry Mosley for the heads up.

Can anyone suggest a site with a good, unimpeded western horizon to view this from?

I got a good view of Mercury yesterday evening from Galway. It was a good bit up in the sky.

Watch for sunset and after about 15 to 30 minutes, look about 5 degs to the left of where the sun set and about 15 degs up from the horizon. Mercury is very bright - as the sky gets darker, it will resolve better.

The sun sets around 18:24 (Celbridge), Mercury sets at about 20:05. I'd go check it out from about 18:45 onwards.

A clear view to the West would be best, but as long as you can see a maximum of 15 degrees above the horizon, you should be able to see Mercury, at least for a short period.

WARNING: do NOT point your scope at or near the sun without appropriate protective measures. Wait until the sun has completeley set below the horizon and add on a few minutes before you view to make sure you do not inadvertently look at the sun.

Dave McD

Can anyone suggest a site with a good, unimpeded western horizon to view this from?

The only place I've seen a good western horizon in Dublin was waiting for a flight in one of the Airport terminals, B I think. Saw a magnificent sunset there in December waiting on a delayed flight to Frankfurt.

There are a couple of roads running near to the Airport towards Naul with laybys which might be of use. I've no idea what the areas are like safteywise for setting up equipment though.

Anywhere shouthside you end up with the mountains in the way, even from Killiney hill the direct western horizon is a little high, though at this time of year it might be possible to see the sunset over the city. Of course then you have the unsteady polluted air of the city to look through.

Cheers,
~Al

Anywhere shouthside you end up with the mountains in the way, even from Killiney hill the direct western horizon is a little high, though at this time of year it might be possible to see the sunset over the city. Of course then you have the unsteady polluted air of the city to look through.

Perhaps somewhere around the western end of the Dublin mountains, where you'd get a good view down into the planes of Kildare?

If you have a goto scope you dont have to wait until sunset.
Just make sure the sun is FULLY and permanently behind a building and then do a goto Mercury. make sure you cant see any of the sun standing at the front of the scope.
The scope found it at 6.30 yesterday, when there was no way I could see it with the naked eye.

There was a fair amount of turbulance and it was dancing all over the place, but you could still make out its ~60% phase.
Its very small compared to venus last year.
I hope its clear later on in the week, it'll make a good contrast in phase and size.