Mercury will put on a rare show Monday, parading across the sun

[mahatmakanejeeves]

A transit of Mercury? I saw the second transit of Venus, back in 2012. Conditions weren't right for the first one, in 2004.

Now, where did I put my welding helmet?

Mercury will put on a rare show Monday, parading across the sun

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Mercury will put on a rare show Monday, parading across the sun
By Marcia Dunn / The Associated Press 17 hrs ago



In this composite image provided by NASA, the planet Mercury passes directly between the sun and Earth on May 9, 2016 in a transit which lasted seven-and-a-half-hours. On Monday, Nov. 11, 2019, Mercury will make another transit, visible from the eastern U.S. and Canada, and all Central and South America. The rest of North America, Europe and Africa will catch part of the action. Asia and Australia will miss out.

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/SDO/Genna Duberstein via AP

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Mercury is putting on a rare celestial show next week, parading across the sun in view of most of the world.

The solar system's smallest, innermost planet will resemble a tiny black dot Monday as it passes directly between Earth and the sun. It begins at 7:35 a.m. EST (6:35 a.m. CST).

The entire 5 ½-hour event will be visible, weather permitting, in the eastern U.S. and Canada, and all Central and South America. The rest of North America, Europe and Africa will catch part of the action. Asia and Australia will miss out.

Unlike its 2016 transit, Mercury will score a near bull's-eye this time, passing practically dead center in front of our star.

Mercury's next transit isn't until 2032, and North America won't get another viewing opportunity until 2049. Earthlings get treated to just 13 or 14 Mercury transits a century.
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[WhiteTara]

1. I'm grateful for the internet or I wouldn't get

to see it. It's supposed to rain and snow on Monday here.