Mercury

Latest about Mercury

The May 9, 2016, transit of Mercury.

Teach Your Kids About the Mercury Transit of 2019 with This NASA Guide

By Elizabeth Howell published

Mercury will fly across the sun (from Earth's perspective) on Monday, and NASA has a whole lot of kids' materials ready for the occasion.

Mercury
Mercury as seen passing between Earth and the sun during a transit.

The Science of the 2019 Mercury Transit: How Astronomers Will Study the Rare Celestial Event

By Nola Taylor Tillman published

On Monday, students across the U.S. will use Mercury's transit to measure the distance between Earth and the sun.

Mercury
The sun rises behind midtown Manhattan and the Empire State Building in New York City. On the morning of Nov. 11, 2019, Mercury will transit the rising sun.

A Mercury Transit for the Ages: November 1973

By Joe Rao published

In my long career as an assiduous amateur astronomer, I've seen other transits of Mercury, but one from November 1973 stands out.

Mercury
A close-up view of Mercury (the small, black circle) crossing in front of the disk of the sun on May 9, 2016.

Mercury Transit 2019: How to Watch the Rare Event Live Online

By Hanneke Weitering published

When Mercury passes in front of the sun on Monday, you'll need the right equipment to see it safely. But if you don't have that kind of astronomy gear handy, you can also watch it live online.

Mercury
Boyertown Area High School astronomy teacher Peter Detterline prepares high powered binoculars with a solar filter so that his students may view the planet Mercury as it transits across the face of the sun, on May 9, 2016.

Mercury Transit 2019: How to Find an Event Near You

By Elizabeth Howell published

If you want to watch the Mercury transit on Monday (Nov. 11) but don't have the proper equipment, you can still find a viewing event near you. Here's how.

Mercury
A student uses his smartphone and a photographers lens with a solar filter to capture a photo of the planet Mercury transiting the sun on May 9, 2016.

Mercury Transit on Monday: The Gear You Need to Watch It Safely

By Elizabeth Howell, Hanneke Weitering published

The Mercury transit on Nov. 11 will be accessible to amateur astronomers, as long as they have the right equipment to view it safely.

Mercury
Mercury crossed the face of the sun on May 9, 2016 during a rare transit that delighted skywatchers around the world. This image is a composite view of Mercury during the 7.5 hour event as seen by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory during the event.

Mercury Transit 2019: Here's Why This Celestial Event Is So Rare

By Joe Rao published

On Monday, Nov. 11, a most unusual event will take place: the transit (passage) of the planet Mercury across the sun's disk.

Mercury
An artist's depiction of permanently shadowed craters near the moon's south pole.

Shallow Craters on Moon and Mercury May Hide Thick Slabs of Water Ice

By Meghan Bartels published

Would-be moon explorers are eager to learn better tactics for tracking down ice, which they hope to turn into water and rocket fuel — and new research may have found a new key to spotting buried ice.

Mercury
Mercury will spend all of August in the eastern predawn sky, but it will only be observable with relative ease until the final week of the month.

See the Elusive Planet Mercury in the Dawn Sky This August

By Joe Rao published

If there ever was a planet that I feel has gotten a bad rap for its inability to be readily observed, it would have to be Mercury, known in many circles as the "elusive planet."

Mercury
The first flight by the Wright Brothers.

The First Flight: Wright Flyer

By Jeremy Hsu published

The 1903 Wright Flyer that made history's first flight was a relatively simple machine with propellers and wire controls.

Mercury
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