Saturday, July 6, 2024

Mercury Invades the Beehive (after sunset)

For a short period after dusk on Saturday, July 6, skywatchers can use binoculars and backyard telescopes to look for the prominent dot of Mercury shining amidst the scattered stars of Messier 44, also known as the Beehive Star Cluster. The cluster, which covers an area of sky double the moon's is often visited by the moon and planets because of its location only 1.3 degrees north of the ecliptic. Speedy Mercury will appear just to the lower right (or celestial west of) the cluster on Friday and then to its upper left on Sunday. Observers located near the tropics, where the ecliptic stands upright after sunset, will see Mercury's crossing more easily. As a bonus, the magnitude 8, main belt asteroid Vesta will be travelling with Mercury, but offset to the upper right of the cluster.

(Data courtesy of Starry Night)
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