Cairo, Egypt – Dr. Ashraf Tadros, a professor of astronomy at the National Institute of Astronomical and Geophysical Research, said that next week will be the best time for astronomy enthusiasts and professionals to view and photograph the planets Neptune and Mercury, provided that the weather is clear and the sky is free of clouds, dust, and water vapor.
Photo of Planet
Viewing Neptune
“Neptune, the blue giant planet, will be at its closest point to Earth on Tuesday, September 20,” Tadros said in a statement to the Middle East News Agency. “Its face will be fully illuminated by the sun, so it will be visible all night long and will be brighter and more brilliant than any other time of the year.”
Tadros added that Neptune is so far from Earth that it cannot be seen with the naked eye, so a small telescope or binoculars are required. He noted that Neptune will appear as a small blue dot in all telescopes and binoculars, except for the largest ones.
Viewing Mercury
“Mercury, the closest planet to the sun, will reach its maximum western elongation from the sun on Friday, September 23,” Tadros said. “This is the best time to view the planet with the naked eye and photograph it because it will be at its highest point above the eastern horizon just before sunrise, before it disappears in the bright light of the morning twilight.”
Tadros stressed that there is no connection between the alignment of planets in the sky and earthquakes on Earth. He explained that planets often align and often pair with the moon or with each other in a regular and repetitive pattern for thousands of years. However, astronomers have not observed that they are a major cause of earthquakes.
Astronomy enthusiasts and professionals around the world are urged to take advantage of this rare opportunity to view two of the solar system’s most distant planets.
