Posted on 05/09/2008 2:04:16 PM PDT by sig226
Explanation: On Tuesday, May 6, while standing on planet Earth and sweeping your binoculars along the western horizon just after sunset, you might have encountered this arresting skyscape. The view features a slender crescent Moon and bright planet Mercury separated on the sky by only about 2 degrees. Cradled in the sunlit lunar crescent, the night side of the Moon is faintly illuminated by earthshine -- sunlight reflected from planet Earth. Of course, the clouds in silhouette and fading twilight colors are common elements in pictures of the sky after sunset, but much less often seen is inner planet Mercury, usually hiding close to the Sun in Earth's sky. Still, the coming week will be a good time to spot Mercury near the western horizon about 30 minutes after sunset. As for the Moon, tonight and tomorrow night the crescent Moon will wander close to Mars in the early evening sky.
I would love to see sights like this, but up here in Mi. all it does is either rain or snow so we have clouds most of the time...
BOOO HHHIIISSSS
Thanks for posting.
Sunset? That’s that thing that only happens during winter right? /Fairbanks
I saw this view, but, I was at work and couldn’t get photos.
I just went out in the yard and say Mercury quite easily in the west. It’s quite bright (for Mercury anyway) and you shouldn’t have problems seeing it if your sky is clear.
Even a modest telescope should show Mercury as a half-moon.
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