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August is stuffed with celestial occasions, and this week marks a milestone for the 4.503 billion-year-old planet generally known as Mercury.
Being such a small planet that lies near the solar, Mercury may be troublesome to see. That’ll change on Aug. 19, when planet-gazers on Earth can lookup and see Mercury at its best distance from the solar, in accordance with Time and Date.
This interval the place it’s farthest from the solar, referred to as the best elongation, occurs twice each 116 days or so (or about each 4 months), reported Time and Date.
Elongation is basically how far aside the solar and a planet seem once we take a look at them within the sky, the Pierce College Science Dome in western Washington shared on social media.
Because the planet seems farthest from the solar, the solar’s glare doesn’t impede our capability to see the planet as a lot, the school stated.
More on best elongation and why it occurs so typically
According to Pierce College, there are a number of varieties of best elongations, together with:
- Greatest japanese elongation: The planet is most seen within the night simply after sundown.
- Greatest western elongation: The planet is most seen within the morning simply earlier than dawn.
The one area lovers will see on Aug. 19 is the best elongation west, greatest seen within the morning, in accordance with Time and Date. The subsequent best elongation east will happen on Oct. 29, making Mercury most seen within the night, Time and Date stated.
According to Pierce College, Mercury reaches its best elongation six or seven instances a yr. Other planets similar to Venus attain best elongation solely twice per yr, the school stated. This is as a result of Mercury orbits nearer to the solar, and it doesn’t take as a lot time for the planet to make a complete orbit across the solar.
How can I see Mercury at its best elongation?
The greatest time to see Mercury throughout its best elongation is about half-hour earlier than dawn, in accordance with EarthSky. It’s greatest to look within the course of the dawn because the sky will get lighter.
According to Time and Date, these desirous to see Mercury must be cautious.
“Never point binoculars or a telescope in the direction of the Sun,” the web site warns. “It can cause permanent eye damage. Do not try to observe Mercury while any part of the Sun is above the horizon.”
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s NOW crew. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at [email protected].
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