Take a look at the sky and see Mercury in the day – Expressen

Make an appointment with Mercury.

Today is visible planet passing sun.

– Really exciting, says Antos Tobijaszewski, 9, who saw the phenomenon on Tycho Brahe observatory in Oxie outside Malmö.

Between the hours of 13:12 and 20:41, the Mercury will be visible.

For the first time in 13 years you can see from our latitudes planet wander over the vast disc of the sun in the sky. Mercury appears as a small black dot in front of the sun.

– It seemed good in the telescope but it was quite small. I’m very interested in astronomy. It is exciting stars, comets, asteroids, and planets, says Antos Tobijaszewski from Kävlinge which almost weekly visits to Tycho Brahe observatory with her father.

Protect your eyes

Binoculars or telescopes is a must – and should be used with sunscreen. Point the telescope or binoculars at the sun, and project the image on a paper where the planet will appear as a dot.

Do not forget: Never look directly at the sun.

– Protect your eyes. You do not see Mercury with the naked eye, and without the right equipment can damage the eyes. My best tip is to go on a tour organized around the country, says Peter Linde, astronomer Tycho Brahe observatory outside Malmö.

Here is a list of places around the country where views are held and equipment are available to borrow.

New chance

It will be some time before you get an equally good opportunity to see Mercury. According to NASA, the planet will be seen as it passes between the sun and the earth in 2019, 2032 and 2039, but in November. Then you will see, however, the planet appears smaller because the passage is at a greater distance than when it passes in May.

So you miss today’s celestial display, you have a chance May 7, 2049.