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Tribune News Network
Doha
The nearest planet to the sun ‘Mercury’ will be at Inferior conjunction with sun when it will pass in between the sun and earth on the dawn sky of Friday, March 15 at 4:43am Doha local time, Qatar Calendar House (QCH) has announced.
Astronomy expert at QCH Dr Beshir Marzouk said, “The Inferior conjunction of Mercury is a very important phenomenon for two reasons. Firstly, it is an indicator to Mercury transition to disappear on an evening sky over western horizon after sunset, to appear on the morning sky over eastern horizon before sunrise. Secondly, the Inferior conjunction phenomenon only occurs for two planets of our solar system (Venus and Mercury) because they orbit around the sun and inside earth’s orbit.”
During Inferior conjunction of Mercury, the centre of three celestial objects - sun, earth and Mercury - will be aligned on a straight line. Moreover, Mercury will be in between the sun and earth and it will pass very close to the sun.
Dr Marzouk added, “Qatar and Arab region countries residents will be able to see and observe Mercury over eastern horizon during the first week of April approximately, when the duration between Mercury time rise and sunrise time will be increasing during next few weeks. On Friday, Mercury will rise and set over Qatar sky and around the world at the same time of sunrise and sunset respectively, so it will be impossible to observe Mercury on Friday.
The Inferior conjunction of Mercury occurred last on November 27, 2018; while Mercury will be at Inferior conjunction with the sun again on June 21, 2019.
There are two types of conjunction in the solar system planets - Superior and Inferior conjunctions. Superior conjunction occurs for all solar system planets, while Inferior conjunction occurs for two planets only (Mercury and Venus) because they orbit around the sun and inside earth’s orbit.
Doha
The nearest planet to the sun ‘Mercury’ will be at Inferior conjunction with sun when it will pass in between the sun and earth on the dawn sky of Friday, March 15 at 4:43am Doha local time, Qatar Calendar House (QCH) has announced.
Astronomy expert at QCH Dr Beshir Marzouk said, “The Inferior conjunction of Mercury is a very important phenomenon for two reasons. Firstly, it is an indicator to Mercury transition to disappear on an evening sky over western horizon after sunset, to appear on the morning sky over eastern horizon before sunrise. Secondly, the Inferior conjunction phenomenon only occurs for two planets of our solar system (Venus and Mercury) because they orbit around the sun and inside earth’s orbit.”
During Inferior conjunction of Mercury, the centre of three celestial objects - sun, earth and Mercury - will be aligned on a straight line. Moreover, Mercury will be in between the sun and earth and it will pass very close to the sun.
Dr Marzouk added, “Qatar and Arab region countries residents will be able to see and observe Mercury over eastern horizon during the first week of April approximately, when the duration between Mercury time rise and sunrise time will be increasing during next few weeks. On Friday, Mercury will rise and set over Qatar sky and around the world at the same time of sunrise and sunset respectively, so it will be impossible to observe Mercury on Friday.
The Inferior conjunction of Mercury occurred last on November 27, 2018; while Mercury will be at Inferior conjunction with the sun again on June 21, 2019.
There are two types of conjunction in the solar system planets - Superior and Inferior conjunctions. Superior conjunction occurs for all solar system planets, while Inferior conjunction occurs for two planets only (Mercury and Venus) because they orbit around the sun and inside earth’s orbit.
