Today's Image

Mercury and the Pleiades

Posted by
Deborah Byrd
and
April 30, 2015
View larger. | Mercury and the Pleiades on April 29, 2015 by Jack Webb.
View larger. | Mercury is just above the ridge in this photo, and the Pleiades is the little dipper-shaped star cluster above Mercury. Photo taken just outside Yellowstone National Park by Jack Webb.

Jack Webb in Wapiti, Wyoming captured this shot last night (April 29, 2015) of Mercury and the Pleiades, a tiny dipper-shaped star cluster also called the Seven Sisters. Congratulations on catching Mercury, Jack!

Our sun’s innermost planet, Mercury, and the distant star cluster Pleiades are now low in the west after sunset. They’re just above the place where the sun went down. They are easier to see from the Northern Hemisphere than the Southern, because the ecliptic – or path of the sun, moon and planets – makes a steep angle now with the western horizon in the evening. The steep angle of the ecliptic (from Northern Hemisphere locations) places Mercury above the sunset glare.

Look for them early, because Mercury and the Pleiades will sink below the western horizon by nightfall or early evening. They are beautiful. You will love seeing them!

Read more about Mercury and the Pleiades

An imaginary line from the planet Jupiter and through the planet Venus helps you to locate the planet Mercury near the horizon. The green line depicts the ecliptic
An imaginary line from the bright planet Jupiter and through the even-brighter planet Venus helps you to locate the planet Mercury near the horizon. Be sure to look early because Mercury will soon follow the sun below the western horizon. The green line depicts the ecliptic. The dipper-shaped Pleiades will be near Mercury.

Bottom line: The elusive planet Mercury and the lovely Seven Sisters low in the west after sunset. Photo by Jack Webb.

Posted 
April 30, 2015
 in 
Today's Image

Deborah Byrd

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About the Author:
Deborah Byrd (asteroid 3505 Byrd) helps edit EarthSky.org and is a frequent host of EarthSky videos. Deborah created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named in her honor in 1990, a Public Service Award from the National Science Board in 2003, and the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society in 2020. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.

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