Skip to content
Vatican Observatory
  • About
    • Overview
    • Team
    • FAQ
  • Telescopes
    • Overview
    • Telescope Images
  • Tours
    • Castel Gandolfo
    • U.S.
  • Latest
    • Overview
    • Resources
    • Press
    • Audio
    • Video
    • Research
    • Authors
      • FAQs
    • Newsletter
    • Tucson Meteor Cameras
  • Podcast
  • Education
    • Overview
    • Resource Center
    • Image Gallery
    • Summer School
    • Books
    • Software
    • Additional Resources
    • ACME
  • Shop
  • Calendar
    • View our Event Calendar
  • Donate
    • Donate Now
    • Smart Ways to Give
    • Sacred Space Astronomy
      • View Content
    • Bequests / Trusts
    • The Foundation
      • Newsletters
      • Annual Reports
  • Press
    • VO in the News
    • Press Kit
  • Specola Vaticana
  • Contact
    • Contact
  • About
    • Overview
    • Team
    • FAQ
  • Telescopes
    • Overview
    • Telescope Images
  • Tours
    • Castel Gandolfo
    • U.S.
  • Latest
    • Overview
    • Resources
    • Press
    • Audio
    • Video
    • Research
    • Authors
      • FAQs
    • Newsletter
    • Tucson Meteor Cameras
  • Podcast
  • Education
    • Overview
    • Resource Center
    • Image Gallery
    • Summer School
    • Books
    • Software
    • Additional Resources
    • ACME
  • Shop
  • Calendar
    • View our Event Calendar
  • Donate
    • Donate Now
    • Smart Ways to Give
    • Sacred Space Astronomy
      • View Content
    • Bequests / Trusts
    • The Foundation
      • Newsletters
      • Annual Reports
  • Press
    • VO in the News
    • Press Kit
  • Specola Vaticana
  • Contact
    • Contact

2016 Mercury Transit

By Robert Trembley  |  9 May 2016

Share:
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share via Email
“Teardrop” shortly after the start of the transit. Credit: Stellarium.

On Monday, May 9th, the planet Mercury will cross the face of the Sun, in what is known as a “transit.” The Earth and Mercury must be aligned properly in their orbits for the transit to be visible. Mercury’s orbit is inclined 7° to the plane of the ecliptic, making Mercury transits an uncommon astronomical event, occurring only about 13 times a century. The next Mercury transit will occur in 2019.

The transit begins at 7:12 a.m. EDT; a telescope or high-powered binoculars are required to observe the event. Observing events will be taking place all over the world.  CAUTION: Please do not look at the Sun with the unaided eye; use solar glasses, or telescopes or binoculars with solar filters.

The entire transit will be visible to persons in eastern North America, and western Europe. The western U.S., most of Europe, Africa, and Asia will be able to observe a portion of the transit. There are numerous websites broadcasting the event live.

LIVE TRANSIT WEBCASTS
Coca Cola Space Science Center: http://www.ccssc.org/webcast.html
Sky and Telescope: http://livestream.com/skyandtelescope/mercury
Griffith Observatory TV: http://livestream.com/GriffithObservatoryTV/MercuryTransit2016
Bareket Observatory, Israel: http://www.bareket-astro.com/en/astronomical-webcasts/2016-transit-of-mercury-live-webcast.html
CESAR: http://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/cesar/streaming
Slooh: https://main.slooh.com/event/transit-of-mercury/
SDO: http://mercurytransit.gsfc.nasa.gov/


Position of Mercury about an hour after the start of the transit. Credit: Stellarium. Position of Mercury about an hour after the start of the transit. Credit: Stellarium.
“Teardrop” shortly before the end of the transit. Credit: Stellarium.
Position of the inner planets during the Mercury Transit, seen from a top-down viewpoint. Credit: NASA Eyes on the Solar System Position of the inner planets during the Mercury Transit, seen from a top-down viewpoint. Credit: NASA Eyes on the Solar System
Position of the inner planets during the Mercury Transit, seen from a viewpoint above the Sun. Credit: NASA Eyes on the Solar System Position of the inner planets during the Mercury Transit, seen from a viewpoint above the Sun. Credit: NASA Eyes on the Solar System

Resources:

NASA Night Sky Network: https://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/news-display.cfm?News_ID=721
Fred Espenak’s EclipseWise Site: http://eclipsewise.com/oh/tm2016.html
NASA Transit of Mercury: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/news/2016/5/6/transit-of-mercury/
NASA Eclipse Catalog: http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/transit/catalog/MercuryCatalog.html
Sky and Telescope: http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/observing-news/may-9th-transit-of-mercury-everything-you-need-to-know/

Share:
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share via Email

Sacred Space Astronomy

The Vatican Observatory’s official digital community and online magazine.

Become a Member

Recent Posts

Corkscrew Prom

By Deirdre Kelleghan  |  21 May 2025  |  Sacred Space Astronomy

From the Vatican Observatory Faith and Science pages (Younger Readers) — Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas

By Faith and Science  |  21 May 2025  |  Sacred Space Astronomy

Nuns Helped Map Close To Half A Million Stars In The Early 20th Century After The Vatican Recruited Them

Chip Chick  |  20 May 2025  |  Press

Visit of Br. Guy Consolmagno S.J.

Pluscarden Abbey  |  19 May 2025  |  Press

Archives

      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • August
      • June
      • March
      • January
      • November
      • October
      • December
      • November
      • April
      • May
      • January
      • December
      • September
      • May
      • March
      • December
      • November
      • February

More Posts by
Robert Trembley

Nuns Helped Map Close To Half A Million Stars In The Early 20th Century After The Vatican Recruited Them

Chip Chick  |  20 May 2025  |  Press

Visit of Br. Guy Consolmagno S.J.

Pluscarden Abbey  |  19 May 2025  |  Press

Ellerman Bomb

By Robert Trembley  |  11 May 2025  |  Sacred Space Astronomy

ⓜ Full Moon-th Meetup with Bob Trembley – May 12, 2025

By Robert Trembley  |  9 May 2025  |  Sacred Space Astronomy

How to Pray with the Stars with Br. Guy Consolmagno, SJ – AMDG Podcast

By Robert Trembley  |  7 May 2025  |  Sacred Space Astronomy

Vatican astronomer visits Mount St Mary’s College

Independent Catholic News  |  7 May 2025  |  Press

View More

Newsletter

Upcoming astronomical events, scientific breakthroughs, philosophical reflections… just a few reasons to subscribe to our newsletter!

Vatican Observatory
  • About
  • Telescopes
  • Tours
  • Latest
  • Podcast
  • Education
  • Shop
  • Calendar
  • Donate
  • Press
  • Specola Vaticana
  • Contact
Privacy Policy  |   Cookie Policy  |   Disclosure Statement  |   This website is supported by the Vatican Observatory Foundation

Podcast:

  • Apple Podcasts Listen onApple Podcasts
  • Spotify Listen onSpotify
  • Google Podcasts Listen onGoogle Podcasts
  • Stitcher Listen onStitcher
  • Amazon Alexa Listen onAmazon Alexa
  • TuneIn Listen onTuneIn
Made by Longbeard