Finding Mercury
Mercury can be seen in the night sky without a telescope, but you need to know when and where to look. Mercury can be viewed sometimes in the evening just after sunset in the west, or sometimes in the early morning just before sunrise in the east.
Mercury can be seen with the naked eye, but it is helpful to have binoculars.
The best place to view Mercury is at the beach, on a hill, or in a clear field. Choose a place with a dark, unobstructed horizon to view Mercury, and you'll see how moonlike it looks.
The later Mercury sets in the evening, the easier it is to see and it stays around for longer. Also, the earlier it rises in the morning, the easier it is to see and it stays around for longer then, too. |
Clues for Viewing
There are many amateur astronomers who have never even bothered observing Mercury. Why? Mercury moves very quickly through the sky, and it is never more than 28 degrees from the Sun . That means you can view Mercury only right after the Sun sets or rises.
If you know where and when to look, it's an easy planet to spot, either low in the west after the Sun has gone down or in the east at dawn.
You can see Mercury's phases with a small telescope.
Since Mercury will be visible only very close to the horizon, obstacles such as buildings can get in the way. Plus, our atmosphere along with light pollution can make it difficult to get a clear view of the planet.
|
