mercury

[starstruk]

Set up early tonight to se if i could get a first look at Mercury. Had just about given up when i spotted something in the gap between two houses much further north than i was looking.

Got the scope on it and bingo,my third planet(only had the scope a couple of months). It looked orange to me and although it was shimmering i could make out that it was not quite a full disc,just more than half I'd say.

[Talitha]

Congratulations! Good thing you looked between the houses.

[asteria]

Hi there - I caught Mercury as well. It was low in the west, visible just before and after sunset. Difficult to see well, as the seeing low to the horizon is usually poor. I was using an 80mm short focal length refractor so not an ideal instrument. Anyway, it was good to see. I was trying to pick up the shape as well, but couldn't make out any crescent.

All the best. Ed

[part timer]

I've been keeping my eye on mercury each clear evening this week.

About two years ago I realised that when it reaches max elongation in the evenings it does so in THE ONLY gap in my horizon between houses .

This week I have clearly seen the phase on two nights through my 90mm Mak which is a real bonus as Mercury is so low it usually just a 'splodge'.