Abstract
THE PLANET MERCURY.—Mr. W. F. Denning writes that the most favourable time of the present year for viewing this object will occur between May 12 and 27. Mercury is rarely visible to the naked eye, and intending observers should utilise the present opportunity of catching a glimpse of the fugitive little object, which it is recorded always evaded the eyes of Copernicus. The planet will be at its greatest apparent distance from the sun on May 23 and will set about two hours after the sun for about a fortnight. It will be easily visible to the naked eye near the west-northwest horizon, at about 8.40 P.M. G.M.T. if the sky is clear in that region. Twilight will be very strong but Mercury may be seen with a rosy fluctuating light rather brighter than that of a first magnitude star. It may be easily identified, for the bright planet Venus will be not more than four or five degrees to the eastward, and situated to the left and above the smaller orb of Mercury.
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Our Astronomical Column. Nature 109, 623 (1922). https://doi.org/10.1038/109623a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/109623a0