Mercury

[Pete Presland]

Mercury is an easy spot right now in my 15x70's about 5-10 degrees high.  Look around 15 degress below venus and to the right.

[Captain Scarlet]

Thanks for the heads up. Just tried, but a stubborn band of low cloud just where it should be...

[miguel87]

Apparently it should be an easy find tonight and my forecast is clear until midnight.

Do plan to set up and observe it through twilight.

Quite excited as Mercury is the only major planet in our solar system that I have not observed!

Any tips for a first time mercurian?

Edited May 20, 2020 by miguel87

[John]

Mercury's disk is around 6 arc seconds in apparent diameter. Venus is 52 arc seconds.

Mercury will be a very small gibbous disk.

[miguel87]

Thanks john. Quite excited to tick it off the list even tho I am not expecting a spectacular display!

Any hope of surface detail?

Edited May 20, 2020 by miguel87

[John]

Just now, miguel87 said:

Any hope of surface detail?

I've not seen anything obvious when I've observed it previously. But I didn't have a Tak back then .......

[miguel87]

Just now, John said:

I've not seen anything obvious when I've observed it previously. But I didn't have a Tak back then .......

Are you gonna give it a go over the next few days?

OK, well it will be pleasant just to resolve the disc in my trusty newt!

✌

[John]

Yep - I've got a scope upstairs at the moment because that where I have my clearest and lowest western views.

Last time I observed it I managed an image, well in silhouette anyway

[miguel87]

2 minutes ago, John said:

Yep - I've got a scope upstairs at the moment because that where I have my clearest and lowest western views.

Last time I observed it I managed an image, well in silhouette anyway

Very nice transit shot! 

If nothing else, it's an opportunity to try out my highest magnification 😄

[Pete Presland]

A easy spot last night just to the left of Venus, very annoying wind/clouds though! Looking forward to it climbing a little higher over the next week.

[lunator]

It was a fairly easy spot in my 15x70's last night just to the left of Venus. It was nice the clouds got out of the way for once 😊

[Guest]

4 minutes ago, lunator said:

It was a fairly easy spot in my 15x70's last night just to the left of Venus. It was nice the clouds got out of the way for once 😊

No such luck up here, constant cloud cover!😟

[Barry-W-Fenner]

14 minutes ago, merlin100 said:

No such luck up here, constant cloud cover!😟

I was the same Merlin. Kept an eye on the sky but no such luck with  a break in the cloud. I hope we get a decent view of Mercury before its too late.

[Bobby1970]

Managed to view it in my 127mm Mak last night. Very bright indeed but so low down and with a turbulent atmosphere, was very difficult to focus on. Wanted to try and grab some video to process but some cloud decided to make and appearance then when it cleared Mercury had dropped below some houses. 😞

Edited May 23, 2020 by Bobby1970