Shy Mercury emerges this week

Click above to view Mercury's position on June 5 and 10 (Graphics copyright 2000 Sky Publishing Corp.)

ALSO Scientists take a closer look at the mysterious side of Mercury

June 5, 2000
Web posted at: 4:48 PM EDT (2048 GMT)

From Sky & Telescope

Of the five planets visible to the unaided eye, Mercury is by far the hardest to spot. It never strays far from the sun, so from our perspective Mercury is frequently masked by the bright glow of twilight before sunrise or after sunset. But this elusive planet is fairly easy to spot -- if you know where and when to look.

Look this week. Right now Mercury is making this year's highest vault into evening twilight for observers in North America and Europe. Each evening the shy planet comes into view at almost the same time and place in the west-northwest sky.

Throughout this week Mercury is about 18 degrees above the horizon at sunset and perhaps 12 degrees high when the sky has darkened enough to spot it. (As a rough guide, your closed fist at arm's length is about 10 degrees tall.)

If your western horizon is free of heavy haze or clouds, the planet will appear as a gleaming starlike beacon. Binoculars will make your search easier, and on June 5 a slender crescent Moon points toward the horizon area where Mercury lies.

By June 16 Mercury will be only about half as bright as it is now, so catch this fleeting planet while you can.

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