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Posted by: Stu Apr 4 2010, 07:10 AM

FINALLY had a gorgeous view of Venus and Mercury shining close together in the west after sunset last night...

More pics at: http://cumbriansky.wordpress.com/2010/04/04/mercury-and-venus-shine-above-kendal

Posted by: Explorer1 Apr 4 2010, 08:53 AM

You have one jealous city dwelling admirer here.
Ever thought of submitting something to spaceweather.com, Stu? Those pics would fit right in!

Posted by: gwiz Apr 4 2010, 11:06 AM

I saw the two planets together on Wednesday and again yesterday. I'm 65 and it's the first time I've knowingly seen Mercury.

Posted by: Stu Apr 4 2010, 11:33 AM

Had a few things on Spaceweather.com in the past, and I've submitted these too, but not holding my breath for them being used as I don't live in Alaska or Tehran...

Posted by: Ian R Apr 4 2010, 10:20 PM

This apparition was a first for me too. Having never seen it before, I was ecstatic to spot Mercury twinkling beneath a ribbon of cloud, just after leaving Tesco on Saturday evening. On arriving home, I rushed upstairs and managed to capture this shot of the two inner planets hovering over the rooftops of Plymouth:

Posted by: Greg Hullender Apr 5 2010, 01:10 AM

I've seen Mercury several times before, so it's no big deal, but Seattle hasn't been the best place to try to see this particular apparition . . .

--Greg

Posted by: Stu Apr 5 2010, 05:14 AM

Might not be a big deal to you, but I always get a huge kick out of seeing Mercury, especially cos our cute British weather makes it quite challenging to say the least. And since MESSENGER started taking her gorgeous images Mercury has seemed a lot more like a real world to me than it did before.

Posted by: Greg Hullender Apr 5 2010, 02:58 PM

I didn't mean to imply I haven't been TRYING to see it. :-) Just consoling myself that at least I have seen it before. And I suspect Seattle weather is just as challenging as British weather. (Not a competition either of us wants to win, I suspect.)

--Greg

Posted by: bkellysky Apr 5 2010, 10:45 PM

High clouds being thrust over us from severe weather in the midwest has made it hard to get a good shot of Venus and Mercury together.
It was clear on Thursday, but Saturday and Sunday were too cloudy to get a photo. Friday, I was able to wait for Mercury to appear in a less-cloudy layer.
See bkellysky.wordpress.com for the photo.

bob

Posted by: ElkGroveDan Apr 7 2010, 04:52 AM

I went out looking for the Zodiacal light tonight but didn't have much luck. This image may look light but it was actually pretty dark, though I think I need to head up to the mountains one night this week to get some real darkness. This was the 15 second bracket, 18mm lens. But I did capture Mercury and Venus as well as the Pleiades hanging over the lights of Elk Grove 10 miles away.

Posted by: ElkGroveDan Apr 7 2010, 04:56 AM

OT for this discussion, but here's the Pleiades at 300mm

Posted by: Stu Apr 7 2010, 05:24 AM

Nice pics, Dan. We were hoping we might see an aurora here last night, but porridge-thick cloud and decreasing activity levels put a stop to that.

Posted by: ElkGroveDan Apr 7 2010, 05:33 AM

I need to drive over the mountains to Reno one day this week. Perhaps I'll stay the night and head up to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modoc_Plateau where it is known for dark skies. Any civilization within 100 miles is on the other side of mountain ranges.

Posted by: As old as Voyager Apr 7 2010, 08:15 PM

Tonight at about 20.45 I finally got to see little Mercury! So dim and tiny next to Venus.

My vantage point wasn't the best - in the middle of Sheffield UK under sodium streetlights but seeing it has really made my day!

I manged to get a few shots with my standard Samsung digital camera. They don't compare with others above but go to show how even 'tricky to spot' Mercury can be seen in adverse observing conditions.

So here it is...above the bus stop, streetlights and nestling between the telephone wires!

Posted by: Stu Apr 7 2010, 09:25 PM

Glad you managed to see it! :-)

Stella and I hiked up to Kendal Castle again this evening to take advantage of a 100% clear sky. By the time we got to the castle the sky was a beautiful electric blue, and both planets were easy to spot above the hills over on the opposite side of town...

Posted by: Ant103 Apr 7 2010, 10:24 PM

From my point of view, this modest picture

Posted by: Sunspot Apr 8 2010, 08:10 PM

From Cambridgeshire this evening

Posted by: Adam Hurcewicz Apr 8 2010, 08:45 PM

From Poland few hours ago...

Nikon D40x & tripod (ISO 400), Bialystok city
Adam H.

Posted by: Ian R Apr 16 2010, 07:25 PM

Took this shot of Venus, Mercury and a very young Moon last night here in Plymouth. Mercury was completely invisible to the naked eye, but showed up in the images pretty well.

Posted by: Sunspot Apr 16 2010, 08:29 PM

Just went out to get some pictures of the sunset, couldn't see Mercury at all, not sure if clouds or volcanic particles obscure the view lol

Posted by: nprev Apr 16 2010, 09:38 PM

Forgot to mention that my wife & I were in Laughlin, Nevada last weekend & had a gorgeous view of Venus & Mercury over the mountains @ sunset. Didn't bring a camera because I was gambling (seemed unwise to bring things I'd be tempted to pawn... )

Posted by: Stu Apr 17 2010, 08:40 AM

Couple of pics from t'other night...

That's Venus, and the Moon, with Mercury v close to the Moonn

... and this is the young Moon and Mercury snuggled up close.

I love my new camera.

Posted by: Ant103 Apr 17 2010, 09:00 AM

Nice pics Stu

Mines
http://www.db-prods.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/IMG_1480.jpg
You can see the Pleiades open cluster here .
http://www.db-prods.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/IMG_1493.jpg
http://www.db-prods.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/IMG_1489.jpg

Posted by: PhilCo126 Apr 17 2010, 06:04 PM

Great photos, Mercury could be seen with 20X80 binos... and due to the volcanic ash in the troposphere, there're no aircraft condensation lines in the skies. What an amazing sight

Posted by: Astro0 Apr 18 2010, 08:10 AM

Moon and Venus tonight from my backyard.
For all the northern hemispherians, turn your monitor upsidedown to view