On May 9, 2016, will be able to see a transit of planet Mercury, i.e. a small black spot across the face of the Sun.
The transits of inner planets, such as Venus and Mercury, are unusual phenomena: this happens less than twice a century with Venus, and 13 times a century with Mercury, in May or November.
The transit of Mercury next May 9 will be completely visible from Western Europe, the US east coast and nearly everywhere from Latin America.
On Canary Islands the event begins at 12:12 a.m. and ends at 7:40 p.m.
Transit circumstances and timing for Canary Islands:
1 – External ingress: Time 12:12 a.m., Position Angle (PA) 83,4º, Altitude of the Sun (Alt) 61,4º
2 – Internal ingress: Time 12:16 a.m., PA 83,6º, Alt 62,1º
Maximum transit: Time 3:56 p.m., PA 153,9º, Alt 62,7º
3 – Internal egress: Time 7:37 p.m., PA 224,1º, Alt 14,8º
4 – External egress: Time 7:40 p.m., PA 224,4º, Alt 14,2º
Warning: NEVER look directly at the sun without proper protection!!!
Videos (in spanish and english) and pictures of transit will be broadcasted live on internet. Click here.
