Mercury Transit of Sun

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by wjtracy, May 9, 2016.

  1. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    At the moment I believe Mercury is passing in front of the Sun which is quite rare.
    Murphy's Law here in DC we have total cloud cover and rain. But it lasts for 7 hrs, so hoping for break in clouds.

    Use proper techniques Sun viewing.
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    Coca-Cola Space Science Center
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    we have full sun, what am i looking for?
     
  3. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    I assume it has just ended...so you are looking for a picture or video of it.
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    thanks, will do. but if that's the case, why does it matter that it's cloudy in dc?

    edit, i get it, i'm too late for the real thing.:oops:
     
  5. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    This is about half way so say 11AM and this is a little like what I saw in my telescope yesterday (without Mercury) you can see the sunspots and lower left you have Mercury. Takes about 7 hours to go across the face, so when you first posted it would have been almost over on the very edge or off.

    Don't worry, for this event, seeing the photo is about as good as seeing the real event. On the other hand, comets or total solar eclipse what the naked eye sees or via telescope cannot be captured on film very well, so you want to see it (next summer we have USA ToTal Solar Eclipse!!)

    [​IMG]
     
    #5 wjtracy, May 9, 2016
    Last edited: May 9, 2016
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    saw a video on 'the guardian'. sun looked incredible, but mercury could have just been a speck on the video camera.
    i suppose seeing the real thing is more impressive.