Post by Centaur on Dec 12, 2009 14:31:36 GMT -6
The elusive little planet Mercury has begun its apparition as an evening star following its superior conjunction behind the Sun on 2009 NOV 05. This should be a fine apparition for observers in the southern hemisphere, and somewhat challenging for those of us in the north.
I’ve created a graphic illustrating Mercury’s evening apparition as viewed from Chicagoland. It should well serve observers north of the tropics. Another image depicts Mercury at its peaks over the next 20 evening apparitions. They can be seen at: www.curtrenz.com/astronomical
All dates given here are based on CST (UT-6). Mercury will achieve its greatest eastern elongation of 20.3° from the Sun on DEC 18. It will reach its greatest altitude at 30 minutes after sunset from Chicagoland on DEC 21 at 7.9°. It will achieve dichotomy (50% illuminated like a Half Moon) also on DEC 21. Before that date it will appear gibbous and afterward a crescent. While decreasing in brightness, it will then fall to inferior conjunction between Earth and Sun on 2010 JAN 04.
The waxing crescent Moon will pass about 1° north of Mercury early on DEC 18.
Photos and descriptions of Mercury during the current evening apparition would be welcome additions to this thread.
I’ve created a graphic illustrating Mercury’s evening apparition as viewed from Chicagoland. It should well serve observers north of the tropics. Another image depicts Mercury at its peaks over the next 20 evening apparitions. They can be seen at: www.curtrenz.com/astronomical
All dates given here are based on CST (UT-6). Mercury will achieve its greatest eastern elongation of 20.3° from the Sun on DEC 18. It will reach its greatest altitude at 30 minutes after sunset from Chicagoland on DEC 21 at 7.9°. It will achieve dichotomy (50% illuminated like a Half Moon) also on DEC 21. Before that date it will appear gibbous and afterward a crescent. While decreasing in brightness, it will then fall to inferior conjunction between Earth and Sun on 2010 JAN 04.
The waxing crescent Moon will pass about 1° north of Mercury early on DEC 18.
Photos and descriptions of Mercury during the current evening apparition would be welcome additions to this thread.
