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Mercury's Transit: An Unusual Spot on the Sun

Explanation: What's that dot on the Sun? If you look closely, it is almost perfectly round. The dot is the result of an unusual type of solar eclipse that occurred in 2006. Usually it is the Earth's Moon that eclipses the Sun. This time, the planet Mercury took a turn. Like the approach to New Moon before a solar eclipse, the phase of Mercury became a continually thinner crescent as the planet progressed toward an alignment with the Sun. Eventually the phase of Mercury dropped to zero and the dark spot of Mercury crossed our parent star. The situation could technically be labeled a Mercurian annular eclipse with an extraordinarily large ring of fire. From above the cratered planes of the night side of Mercury, the Earth appeared in its fullest phase. Hours later, as Mercury continued in its orbit, a slight crescent phase appeared again. The next Mercurian solar eclipse will occur in 2016.

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Nice Pic....


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Lovely image. Enjoy the Sunday repeats because they are usually ones we may have missed.

that is nice " be labeled a Mercurian annular eclipse with an extraordinarily large ring of fire. " interesting word engineering. Like a german car maker described a 180 degree V8 engine ( with a extraordinarily flat V shape I saw that on Car and Driver years ago. Hugging the outskirts of scientific humor arena.

Just think....The Martian watch US transit the Sun....want watch with ENVIOUS EYES.....

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that would be of interest knowing the Earth has an atmosphere and it can bend light.

I’m curious about the dates “July 26, 63139”, “Sept 17, 13425”, and “March 27, 224508”. If those are years, they will be a long time from 2014! Am I missing something?

By the way, excellent images.

Mactavish wrote:I’m curious about the dates “July 26, 63139”, “Sept 17, 13425”, and “March 27, 224508”. If those are years, they will be a long time from 2014! Am I missing something?

By the way, excellent images.

I think you're adding something

alter-ego wrote:

Mactavish wrote:I’m curious about the dates “July 26, 63139”, “Sept 17, 13425”, and “March 27, 224508”. If those are years, they will be a long time from 2014! Am I missing something?

By the way, excellent images.

I think you're adding something

I had overlooked a link within a link. These seemingly ridiculous dates (years) are real, and were calculated by a couple of “scientists” (Meeus & Vitagliano) who determined the dates we can expect to enjoy some simultaneous transits of Venus and Mars. I can hardly wait! If we have to wait until the year 13425 at the earliest, and until 63139 if we sleep through the first one . . . well, I think I’ll just forget it and go down to the pub and have a pint or two.