The Lazy Person's Guide To Watching The Transit Of Mercury
It’s happening on Monday, and you don’t even have to leave your computer to see it.
There's an astronomical event happening on Monday called the transit of Mercury.
ESA/NASA/SOHO
The picture above shows a timelapse of the last time it happened, in 2006. That tiny dot going across the Sun is Mercury.
Most places in the world (including Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Arctic, Antarctica) will be able to see at least some of the transit. In the UK, we'll be able to see the whole thing!
Mercury's first contact with the Sun will be at 12:12pm BST (that's 11:12am UT for anyone in a different timezone). It'll reach its midpoint at 3:57pm and finally leave the Sun's disk at 7:42pm.
ESA / cosmos.esa.int
Because Mercury is so small, you'll need a telescope (with a solar filter) to be able to see it. But luckily, astronomical societies across the UK will be hosting events for people to watch.
If you're in London, the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, are putting on a whole day of events for the spectacle, and you'll of course be able to view the transit (for free next to their Astronomy Centre, or for £5 if you want a timed ticket to see it through the Great Equatorial Telescope).
Check the Federation of Astronomical Society's website to find your local astronomical society and contact them to find out if they're hosting a viewing.
By Brocken Inaglory - Own work, GFDL, commons.wikimedia.org