Mercury
Latest about Mercury
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 Transit 2019: Here's Why This Celestial Event Is So Rare
By Joe Rao last updated
On Monday, Nov. 11, a most unusual event will take place: the transit (passage) of the planet Mercury across the sun's disk.
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 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 Transit on Monday: The Gear You Need to Watch It Safely
By Elizabeth Howell, Hanneke Weitering last updated
The Mercury transit on Nov. 11 will be accessible to amateur astronomers, as long as they have the right equipment to view it safely.
NASA Satellites to Beam Back Images of Rare Mercury Transit in Real-Time
By Elizabeth Howell last updated
Even if you can't find a solar telescope to watch the Mercury transit on Monday (May 9), you don't have to miss the action.
The Mercury Transit of the Sun on Monday is a Science Smorgasbord
By Nola Taylor Tillman last updated
When Mercury crosses the sun on Monday, it will open up a wealth of scientific opportunity for telescopes on Earth and in space.
See the Sharpest-Ever View of Mercury's Transit Across the Sun
By Calla Cofield last updated
A new video shows the highest- spatial- resolution view of Mercury migrating across the surface of the sun. The images were captured by the New Solar Telescope in California, on May 9.
The Transit of Mercury Across the Sun's Face Has Begun: First Videos
By Tariq Malik last updated
The planet Mercury is making its way across the face of the sun (as seen from Earth) in a rare transit event today (May 9). See our first video of the sight from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory.
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