|
If you can't spot Mercury, make do with Jupiter and Saturn.
Jupiter is very bright, high in the South to South-West almost
every night at about 9pm; Saturn is tawny-yellow, above Orion's
shoulders, a little less obvious but not too hard to find.
|
During the next few days, if you're lucky,
you may see Mercury, the smallest planet. It appears near
the Sun, just before sunrise or just after sunset. Often it
is too close to the Sun to see properly. At such times ancient
astrologers used to say the planet was 'under the sunbeams'.
Sometimes, however, Mercury is far enough from the Sun to
be easily visible; astronomers say that this is when Mercury
is at its 'greatest elongation' from the Sun. And it happens
this week.
To view it, be in a high place if possible, just after sunset.
Face west with your arm out in front of you and your fist
resting on the horizon. Mercury should be straight ahead,
to the right of centre, and about three fist-widths up from
the horizon.
If you can spot the constellation of Orion on your left, then
Mercury is at exactly the same height from the horizon as
Rigel, the bright star which is Orion's left knee.
You'll know it if you see it, because there aren't any stars
of similar brightness in that part of the sky. But there again
it might be cloudy, and Mercury likes to be elusive.
|
