The elusive little planet Mercury has begun its apparition as an evening star following its superior conjunction behind the Sun on 2010 MAR 14. This will be a fine apparition for observers in the northern hemisphere, and extremely difficult for those south of the tropics.
I’ve created two graphics illustrating Mercury’s evening apparition as viewed from Chicagoland and Sydney. They should well serve observers in the respective hemispheres. They can be seen by clicking http://www.curtrenz.com/astronomical then going to the inferior planets.
All dates given here are based on CDT (UT-5). Mercury will achieve dichotomy (50% illuminated like a Half Moon) on APR 05. Before that date it will appear gibbous and afterward a crescent. It will achieve its greatest eastern elongation of 19.3° from the Sun on APR 08. It will reach its greatest altitude at 30 minutes after sunset from Chicagoland also on APR 08 at 12.6°. While decreasing in brightness, it will then fall to inferior conjunction between Earth and Sun on APR 28.
Mercury will be separated by only 3° from Venus early in the morning of APR 04, making APR 03 the better evening for North Americans with APR 04 almost as good. However, there will be no official conjunction between the two in either celestial longitude or right ascension. Instead it will appear as though Mercury is chasing toward Venus for several weeks, and then falling back exhausted shortly before success is achieved.
The 2% illuminated waxing crescent Moon will appear to pass about 1° north of Mercury on APR 15. Mercury will not appear to pass near any first magnitude stars during this apparition.
Photos and descriptions of Mercury during the current evening apparition would be welcome additions to this thread.
I’ve created two graphics illustrating Mercury’s evening apparition as viewed from Chicagoland and Sydney. They should well serve observers in the respective hemispheres. They can be seen by clicking http://www.curtrenz.com/astronomical then going to the inferior planets.
All dates given here are based on CDT (UT-5). Mercury will achieve dichotomy (50% illuminated like a Half Moon) on APR 05. Before that date it will appear gibbous and afterward a crescent. It will achieve its greatest eastern elongation of 19.3° from the Sun on APR 08. It will reach its greatest altitude at 30 minutes after sunset from Chicagoland also on APR 08 at 12.6°. While decreasing in brightness, it will then fall to inferior conjunction between Earth and Sun on APR 28.
Mercury will be separated by only 3° from Venus early in the morning of APR 04, making APR 03 the better evening for North Americans with APR 04 almost as good. However, there will be no official conjunction between the two in either celestial longitude or right ascension. Instead it will appear as though Mercury is chasing toward Venus for several weeks, and then falling back exhausted shortly before success is achieved.
The 2% illuminated waxing crescent Moon will appear to pass about 1° north of Mercury on APR 15. Mercury will not appear to pass near any first magnitude stars during this apparition.
Photos and descriptions of Mercury during the current evening apparition would be welcome additions to this thread.
For astronomical graphics, including
monthly wallpaper calendar, visit:
CurtRenz.com/astronomical
Curt Renz
