Hey all, a quick one this week – I’m out in the woods (hooray!) this week with no (little) internet. A nice tradeoff, honestly…
BUT, as I’ve been out this week under clear skies, looking at Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars (midnight or so), I’ve also caught a glimpse of Mercury. All five (six if you count the one you’re standing on), naked eye planets in one evening. Pretty sweet.
Tonight (Thursday, 7/12), Mercury is at Eastern elongation – its largest separation from the Sun, and your best chance of seeing it after sunset.
Seems like this just happened in March – it did, Mercury zips around the Sun in an 88-day year. Four orbits for every one of ours. Which means it’s fleeting, though surprisingly bright.
That’s it today, the woods are calling again. Until I return to civilization!
Get Out There
Troy
http://www.flying-squirrel.org
Flying Squirrel Outdoors 
I will be looking for Mercury tonight.
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Trying to find a nice clear view myself! š
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I looked carefully the past 3 evenings with the naked eyes and could not see Mercury. I wish I had binoculars with me on this trip.
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I was limited in both info and tools last week, but I got it last night! Will be posting a picture later today – it was right next to the baby sliver of a moon, very nice. Problem is by the time it’s dark enough to pick out, it’s pretty low. Not much time… but it is Mag 0.6 right now. Brighter than Saturn, just in a brighter sun-washed sky…
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