Mercury: the planet you've never seen

So maybe YOU have seen the planet Mercury. But most people have not, or at least they have not realized they’ve seen it.

In an extremely unscientific email poll of fifteen of my friends and relatives, only two reported having knowingly seen Mercury in their lives. And as one said she spotted it at Halloween on Franklin Street, there is some ambiguity about whether she was referring to the actual planet or to a solar system costume.

The other thirteen responded with variations on "are you kidding" and "um, no."

Mercury is elusive. As the innermost planet, it never strays far from the Sun from our point of view on Earth. So you can forget about ever seeing Mercury conveniently placed high in the sky because the Sun would also be nearby, overpowering Mercury's much dimmer light.

Instead, your only chance to see Mercury with your unaided eye is when the planet is in the west soon after sunset, or in the east before sunrise. Right now are the best morning views of Mercury for 2009, but it will still be challenging.

First, you'll need to look quite low in the east. So your eastern horizon must be free of obstructions. (I know, good luck finding a tree-free view around here.)

Second, you'll need to choose a good time. Look too early and Mercury won't have risen yet. Look too late and the brightening sky will wash out Mercury from view.

I recommend trying 45 minutes before sunrise. For the Triangle area, that currently means looking about 6:30 a.m. Binoculars will help. But be careful not to aim them at the Sun after it rises unless you want to fry your eyes permanently.

Continue to watch these three planets each morning over the next week, and you’ll witness a slow dance. The morning of Oct. 13, it’s Saturn and Venus that appear as a close pair, with Mercury below.