| More images
Details:
Mercury reaches the center of the Arch of Spring multi-constellation asterism while passing next to mag. 3.0 epsilon Geminorum only 8 arcminutes away. The two could be viewed together as a wide double star in 7x35 binoculars or even 2x54 "constellation" binoculars and made a pretty pair. (The star is AKA Mebsuta, "the outstretched paw of the Lion"--but, umm--isn't Leo the Lion somewhere else?)
This also puts Mercury on the line between Procyon and Capella. At some latitudes the line can become parallel to the horizon as the Arch begins to set; at latitude 37˚ N. that time for tonight was at 9:26pm MDT. However, it was still too bright near the horizon to cleanly capture Procyon and Capella then, so the photos were taken around a half hour later.
Speaking of parallel lines, the blatantly obvious one is the one with Jupiter and Venus parallel to the horizon, and they're almost so with Pollux and Castor. Mercury may be vying for attention at center stage, but the brilliance of Jupiter and Venus pulls one's eyes over to them instead.
Images:
#1: title image
#2: all-planet closeup, including Mercury with epsilon Gem
#3: Venus is headed to M44
Photo data:
Panasonic G9, Lumix 12mm-35mm lens, photo tripod
... #1: 12mm, (f/2.8, 15 sec, ISO 200)
... #2: 35mm, (f/4, 10 sec, ISO 800)
... #3: 35mm, (f/4, 10 sec, ISO 800)
... date: Jun 7, 2026 ~10:00pm MDT (sunset 8:52pm, night 10:43pm)
Photographer's website:
No URL provided.
|
