Transit of Mercury 9 May 2016

[Extollager]

Is anyone observing this event? Skies here in rural eastern North Dakota are still a bit hazy thanks to a Canadian burn, but viewing conditions are good. In my Orion Starblast 4.5" reflector, Mercury appears to be moving from right to left at an angle across the upper half of the sun. It appears that Mercury will have soon reach approximately the latitude of the sun's equator, and have passed it, into the lower half of the sun, by egress. I take it the planet is actually moving left to right across the lower half, but will pass the equator into the upper half of the solar disc by agress. The angle of its movement relative to earth is quite pronounced.

 

[Extollager]

Now it looks tome like Mercury will only just reach the level of the sun's equator as perceived from earth, before the planet attains egress.

 

[Extollager]

Clouds came up so I wasn't able to see the very moment of egress, but I did see Mercury right up to the edge of the disc. I observed the transit from my driveway and from a point a couple of feet from my back door, here in the small town where I live. Quite a strong breeze was blowing eventually, moving the telescope a little.

I hope that, if anyone else observed the transit with a telescope, such a one will tell about it here. For that matter, did anyone watch it happen online?

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

I didn't even hear about this until now. Glad to know that you got to observe it.

Here's a video.

Transit of Mercury 2016: today's celestial event - as it happened

 

[Extollager]

Mercury looked especially tiny when it was right at the sun's edge.

Thanks, Victoria.

 

[Extollager]

[Deleted posting about 11 Nov. 2019 transit]