The elusive little planet Mercury is beginning its apparition as an evening star following its superior conjunction behind the Sun on 2008 NOV 25. This will be a much better one for northern hemisphere observers than we had in the summer.
Mercury will reach its greatest eastern elongation of 19.3° from the Sun on 2009 JAN 04. It will achieve dichotomy (50% illuminated like a Half Moon) on JAN 06. Before that date it will appear gibbous and afterward as a crescent. That will also be the date of its greatest altitude at 30 minutes after sunset from Chicagoland of 9.3°. While decreasing in brightness, it will then fall to inferior conjunction between Earth and Sun on JAN 20.
I’ve created a graphic illustrating Mercury’s current evening apparition as viewed from Chicagoland, although it should well serve most northern hemisphere observers. It can be seen at: http://www.curtrenz.com/astronomical.html
Photos and descriptions of Mercury during its current apparition would be welcome additions to this thread.
Mercury will reach its greatest eastern elongation of 19.3° from the Sun on 2009 JAN 04. It will achieve dichotomy (50% illuminated like a Half Moon) on JAN 06. Before that date it will appear gibbous and afterward as a crescent. That will also be the date of its greatest altitude at 30 minutes after sunset from Chicagoland of 9.3°. While decreasing in brightness, it will then fall to inferior conjunction between Earth and Sun on JAN 20.
I’ve created a graphic illustrating Mercury’s current evening apparition as viewed from Chicagoland, although it should well serve most northern hemisphere observers. It can be seen at: http://www.curtrenz.com/astronomical.html
Photos and descriptions of Mercury during its current apparition would be welcome additions to this thread.
For astronomical graphics, including
monthly wallpaper calendar, visit:
CurtRenz.com/astronomical
Curt Renz
