Saturday, April 18, 2009

Why is planet Mercury difficult to see?

Among the eight planets of our solar system, Mercury is the closest to Sun. It also has the smallest orbit of all the planets. These two factors mean Mercury is always very close to the Sun and the Sun's glare will interfere when we try to see it from Earth. This is why Mercury is so difficult to see from Earth.


Mercury is best viewed just before sunrise and after sunset. An observer also has to know where to look, as Mercury goes around the Sun very quickly. Mercury takes 88 days for a complete revolution, while Earth takes about 365 days. The best way to find Mercury in the sky is to contact and ask a local planetarium or find the best viewing times and location online.


Hope this helps.

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