mercury

mikemasey (Mike) · #1 02-07-2010, 07:54 PM

I have resently obtained a solar filter for my telescope and I think that I have seen the transit of mercury this arvy. 17.35 just before the sun went below the horizon at Yulara,NT. Would this be right or a sunpot? Where can I get info about Mercury transit time, dates etc?

Hans Tucker (Hans) · #2 02-07-2010, 07:58 PM

Sorry Mike but I think you spotted a Sun Spot, 1084 in fact...or most likely. The last Mercury transit was back in 2006 and the next one is not due until 2016.

mikemasey (Mike) · #3 02-07-2010, 08:05 PM

thanks hans, how disapointing but not unexpected luckily I only told one person that it May be mercury but alas next time I see them Ill have come clean, stll sun spot 1058 eh, that sounds like Im not atotal frawed?!

Hans Tucker (Hans) · #4 02-07-2010, 08:12 PM

Check out SOHO website, it should give you some perspective on what you observed.

http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/