While I was working today, I watched the Transit of Mercury across the Sun on Slooh.

Today, people across most of the world had the chance to catch the planet Mercury passing across the sun. This rare event won’t be seen from Earth again until 2032, so we put together this guide on the science behind the sight and how best to observe it yourself.

The smallest planet in the solar system is also the closest to our star, and occasionally it crosses in front of the sun’s bright disk from our perspective here on Earth. The last time this happened was in 2016, but after this upcoming transit, we’ll have to wait another 13 years to see the next one. 

The Transit of Mercury will occur only 14 times during the 21st century. As seen from Earth, only transits of Mercury and Venus are possible, because these are the only planets that lie between Earth and the sun. Transits of Venus occur in pairs separated by about eight years, with more than a century separating each pair.

Mercury began its journey across the sun at 7:35 am, and the entire transit took roughly 5 and a half hours, ending at 1:04 pm, according to NASA.

The planet currently looks like a tiny, traveling blemish on the sun’s face as it passes in front of the sun.

It was a really interesting program to listen to while I was working. 😀🌞❤️