Space
Pink Planet in Sky Appears Just Before Valentine's Day
Catherine Griffin
First Posted: Feb 12, 2013 03:29 PM EST
Don't miss the spectacle in the sky that's making an appearance right before Valentine's Day. Mercury will sit low on the horizon between Feb. 8 and Feb. 21, giving stargazers a view of the planet during twilight. The sunset should reflect off the planet and give it a rosy tint.
Mercury isn't naturally pink, though. Instead, it looks grey. The closest planet to our sun, Mercury races around the star once every 88 Earth days. In addition, its closeness--between 29 and 43 million miles--causes it to sometimes reach a heated 840 degrees during the day. Nighttime temperatures, in contrast, plummet to 275 degrees Fahrenheit due to the planet's insubstantial atmosphere.
The daytime temperatures don't keep Mercury from having ice, though. Recently, NASA's Messenger spacecraft found pockets of ice at Mercury's north pole, according to Space.com. Since the area on the planet is permanently shielded from the sun's heat, the ice doesn't instantly vaporize.
Starting tonight, the planet will linger for as much as an hour after sunset, giving watchers plenty of time to view Mercury. In addition, the planet will appear right beneath the crescent moon, which should help novice sky gazers locate the display.
Since Mercury is so close to the sun, it often makes it difficult to see the planet with the naked eye. Yet tonight should allow anyone with a clear view of the horizon to view the pink-tinted planet.
Mercury won't be the only planet in the sky tonight, though. Look just below it and you'll be able to see Mars. If you miss it tonight, never fear. Both planets should keep relatively close together for the next few days.
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First Posted: Feb 12, 2013 03:29 PM EST
Don't miss the spectacle in the sky that's making an appearance right before Valentine's Day. Mercury will sit low on the horizon between Feb. 8 and Feb. 21, giving stargazers a view of the planet during twilight. The sunset should reflect off the planet and give it a rosy tint.
Mercury isn't naturally pink, though. Instead, it looks grey. The closest planet to our sun, Mercury races around the star once every 88 Earth days. In addition, its closeness--between 29 and 43 million miles--causes it to sometimes reach a heated 840 degrees during the day. Nighttime temperatures, in contrast, plummet to 275 degrees Fahrenheit due to the planet's insubstantial atmosphere.
The daytime temperatures don't keep Mercury from having ice, though. Recently, NASA's Messenger spacecraft found pockets of ice at Mercury's north pole, according to Space.com. Since the area on the planet is permanently shielded from the sun's heat, the ice doesn't instantly vaporize.
Starting tonight, the planet will linger for as much as an hour after sunset, giving watchers plenty of time to view Mercury. In addition, the planet will appear right beneath the crescent moon, which should help novice sky gazers locate the display.
Since Mercury is so close to the sun, it often makes it difficult to see the planet with the naked eye. Yet tonight should allow anyone with a clear view of the horizon to view the pink-tinted planet.
Mercury won't be the only planet in the sky tonight, though. Look just below it and you'll be able to see Mars. If you miss it tonight, never fear. Both planets should keep relatively close together for the next few days.
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone