Elusive Mercury

2 days short of the planet's greatest eastern elongation

The robotic exploration spacecraft MESSENGER is presently orbiting the planet (that's a first!).

Through telescope the planet appears almost half-lit, resembling our first-quarter moon (Mercury and Venus display phases just like our Moon).

RA= 1h06m55s Dec= +9°23.0' (J2000)
Distance=0.936AU
Elongation= 19°
Phase k=48%
Diameter=7.2"

Видео Elusive Mercury канала topaz84