On three different occasions this year – in January, May, and September – you’ll be able to see the planet Mercury with the naked eye in Minnesota. So, star… er, planet-gazers, mark your calendars!
Mercury is the smallest planet in the solar system. It’s only about the size of our own (Earth’s) moon.
Steve Allen/Getty Images It’s also the fastest - hence its namesake, the Roman god of speed. It makes its annual revolution around the sun in only 88 days.
It is also the closest planet to the sun, relative to its neighbors in our solar system.
Cameran Ashraf/Getty Images Mercury is 34 million miles from the sun. Earth’s average distance from the sun, 91 million miles, is almost three times that of Mercury.
Its proximity to the sun makes it an extremely harsh place.
NASA, et al./Wikimedia Commons Between its thin atmosphere, constant exposure to solar radiation, and average surface temperature of 354° Fahrenheit, life as we understand it could not survive there very long.
Not only does Mercury’s location make it a harsh place for life, it makes it difficult to observe.
NASA/Wikimedia Commons Because it’s so close to the sun, Earth-dwellers must wait until Mercury reaches its steepest angle away from the sun - elongation - before we can see it.
Only then can it be observed with the naked eye from Earth, or more specifically, Minnesota.
m-gucci/Getty Images A note of caution: Don’t use a telescope or binoculars to observe Mercury if any part of the sun is still visible - you could injure your eyes.
To see Mercury, wait until sunset, and look for a place where you can get an unobstructed view of the horizon.
Matt Champlin/Getty Images Mercury will be visible in the sky close to the place where the sun disappeared below the horizon.
Mercury will reach elongations great enough for it to be seen in Minnesota on January 30, May 29, and September 22 this year. With its tallgrass prairie, western Minnesota may be the best part of the state for seeing Mercury.
Steve Allen/Getty Images
It’s also the fastest - hence its namesake, the Roman god of speed. It makes its annual revolution around the sun in only 88 days.
Cameran Ashraf/Getty Images
Mercury is 34 million miles from the sun. Earth’s average distance from the sun, 91 million miles, is almost three times that of Mercury.
NASA, et al./Wikimedia Commons
Between its thin atmosphere, constant exposure to solar radiation, and average surface temperature of 354° Fahrenheit, life as we understand it could not survive there very long.
NASA/Wikimedia Commons
Because it’s so close to the sun, Earth-dwellers must wait until Mercury reaches its steepest angle away from the sun - elongation - before we can see it.
m-gucci/Getty Images
A note of caution: Don’t use a telescope or binoculars to observe Mercury if any part of the sun is still visible - you could injure your eyes.
Matt Champlin/Getty Images
Mercury will be visible in the sky close to the place where the sun disappeared below the horizon.
Have you observed Mercury in Minnesota? Do you have any tips on good locations for doing so?
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