EVER SEEN MERCURY?

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 953, 22 April 1930, Page 11

EVER SEEN MERCURY?

IT MAY BE VISIBLE THIS EVENING CONJUNCTION OF PLANETS 111 the twilight of the western sky, about 6 o’clock this evening, Aucklanders may see a conjunction between the planets, Venus and Mercury, if obscuring clouds are absent. Three or four degrees above the horizon the brilliant planet Venus may be clearly seen at 6 o’clock, a little to the north, or right of where the sun has set. Two and a-half degrees further north observers may be able to discern the faint glow of the planet Mercury, which is rarely seen except by astronomers, because of the planet’s comparative faintness and close attendance to the sun. A second conjunction will occur on April 27 when the two planets will occupy the same relative positions, but will be in conjunction about 7.30 p.m., instead of 9.30 p.m., on this occasion. The slow-moving Venus passed the sun on February 6 last, and the faster travelling Mercury on April 1. Because of the greater velocity of the latter planet, however, the two will be equal this evening in their race. Mercury will then take the lead temporarily, but will be overtaken again on April 27, when the race will be over. The brilliance of Venus in this race may serve to indicate its faintt* neighbour. Mercury, enabling many who have never seen the latter, to observe it on this occasion.