See mercury at sunset

14 March 2011: The timing couldn't be better. As well as the NASA MESSENGER orbit around Mercury probe to enter, is the innermost planet of twilight pop 2011 for its best appearance.

The show starts on 14 March. At the end of the day after out there go and check out West into the sunset. A bright star captures your eye - this is Jupiter. It is only down mercury as the giant planet, but easy to find a little dimmer with Jupiter's Guide.

Over the next few evenings, these two planets "happen at night," change places, so that mercury on the bottom is top and Jupiter. The higher mercury is rising, the easier it is to see. On the evening of March 17, should can innermost planet well above all distant trees or buildings - in a prime location for the big event.

March 17 is the night MESSENGER in the orbit is.

Long was. Messenger was launched in August 2004 in the life. Since then, it has 15 times, flown geloopt around the Sun of three planets for multiple gravity of assists and travelled several miles 5 billion. If it always sounds tricky, this is because it is. Mercury races around the Sun faster than 100,000 mph, so it's difficult to catch. In addition, a spacecraft at mercury must endure terrific heat and dangerous solar flares. In the entire history of the space age have only two ships from the planet fly dared - Mariner 10 in 1974 / 75 and MESSENGER even 2008-2009.

Deep secrets expect MESSENGER when it arrives. There is evidence that mercury shrink as it can? The Poland of mercury containing some highly reflective material - there might be ice? Form of mercury long comet-like tail? So, what makes dense mercury? Are any of mercury's volcanic crater "fresh"? Messenger is with specific answers to these questions and many other instruments stared.

MESSENGER a 15-minute engine burn placed on March 17 at 8:45 pm EDT in the orbit. At this historic moment, mercury with the naked eye across much of the United States are displayed. Go and search. Only MESSENGER have a better conference room

Author: Dr. Tony Phillips | Credit: Science@NASA

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