How to Spot Mercury | September 11 - September 17
Season 46 Episode 37 | 1mVideo has Closed Captions
Star Gazers STGZ329 September 11-17, 2023 “How to Spot Mercury September 2023”
Star Gazers STGZ329 September 11-17, 2023 “How to Spot Mercury September 2023”
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Star Gazers is presented by your local public television station.
Funding provided by The Batchelor Foundation and The William J. & Tina Rosenberg Foundation
How to Spot Mercury | September 11 - September 17
Season 46 Episode 37 | 1mVideo has Closed Captions
Star Gazers STGZ329 September 11-17, 2023 “How to Spot Mercury September 2023”
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch Star Gazers
Star Gazers is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipHEY HOWDY MERCURIAL MEMBERS OF THE STAR GAZING COMMUNITY.
MERCURY IS TOUGH TO SEE AT THE BEST OF TIMES, BUT NEXT WEEK IT REACHES ITS HIGHEST MORNING ALTITUDE AND GREAT ELONGATION WEST; PLUS VENUS THE MORNING STAR IS OUT!
HIT THE MORNING TWILIGHT AROUND 5AM AND LOOK EAST FOR RISING VENUS.
IT'’’LL BE THE BRIGHTEST OBJECT IN THE SKY BY FAR.
MERCURY WILL RISE AT ABOUT SIX AM.
IT'’’S A TINY DOT AND DIFFICULT TO SPOT.
IT'’’S BEST TO WAIT UNTIL 6:45AM WHEN IT GETS HIGHER BEFORE IT IS WASHED OUT BY THE LIGHT OF THE SUN.
BECAUSE IT'’’S SO CLOSE TO THE SUN, WE NEED TO WAIT FOR MERC TO GET FAR FROM THE SUN ON ITS ORBIT TO SPOT IT.
THIS POINT IS CALLED ELONGATION AND NEXT WEEK MERCURY WILL REACH ITS GREATEST WESTERN ELONGATION!
BECAUSE IT HAS AN 88-DAY ORBIT, THIS ELONGATION HAPPENS EVERY 44 DAYS YOU JUST HAVE TO KNOW WHERE TO LOOK!
AND NOW YOU DO.
KEEP LOOKIN'’’ UP!
- Science and Nature
Explore scientific discoveries on television's most acclaimed science documentary series.
- Science and Nature
Capturing the splendor of the natural world, from the African plains to the Antarctic ice.
Support for PBS provided by:
Star Gazers is presented by your local public television station.
Funding provided by The Batchelor Foundation and The William J. & Tina Rosenberg Foundation