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Photos and live stream: Mercury’s transit across the sun

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May 9, 2016 at 10:42 a.m. EDT
The highest-resolution solar telescope in the world, Big Bear Solar Observatory's New Solar Telescope, captured images of Mercury crossing the sun on May 9. (Video: Facebook/Big Bear Solar Observatory)

There’s a little black spot on the sun today.

Mercury is transiting the sun today and, where clouds aren’t in the way, it’s visible from Earth.

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The planet’s trip across the sun spans the period from 7:12 a.m. to 2:42 p.m. Eastern time.

Mercury will stroll in front of the sun on Monday, and you can watch it

This is the first Mercury transit in a decade. The next will occur Nov. 11, 2019 — Veterans Day.

Where clouds could be a problem for viewing

AccuWeather developed the graphic below, which is a handy guide to where viewing will be good and not so good. Generally speaking, the interior West and Southeast coastal areas should have the best viewing opportunities.  The center of the country will mostly be clouded over.

Eye protection and viewing

Do not try to view the little black spot with your naked eye. You need to use binoculars or a telescope with a solar filter to safely view the spectacle and avoid eye damage.

If you don’t have the right equipment or if it’s cloudy where you are, consider viewing online. In addition to the stream above, Slooh.com and NASA are streaming the event.

(CWG’s Angela Fritz will be appear on Slooh.com’s broadcast at 1 p.m.).

Photos

Check out photos we’ve received through our social media network below.

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