Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/11/13
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Perhaps could this be of interest: http://science.nasa.gov/newhome/headlines/ast12nov99_1.htm Next Monday, the planet Mercury makes a "grazing transit" of the Sun, which won't occur again until 2314 ... "On 1999 November 15, Mercury will cross the visible disk of the Sun for the first time since 1993. At approximately 2115 UT (4:15 p.m. EST) the black disk of the planet will appear at the Sun's northern limb, about a third of the way around from North to East. These cardinal directions are easy to figure by simply nudging an equatorial mounted telescope back and forth on both axes. The black disk of the planet will be small -- 9.9 arcseconds across -- and blaker than any normal sunspot. Monday's transit is an especially unique event called a grazing transit. Mercury's motion across the Sun will follow a short path near the Sun's northeastern limb. From some parts of the Earth observers will see only part of Mercury's black disk superimposed on the Sun. From other observing sites Mercury's entire disk will be visible just inside the sun's northern limb. The next grazing transit like this one won't happen until the year 2314! " Much more info at the referenced website. Andre Jean Quintal