New Delhi:
The rare celestial event called Mercury Transit remained a feast for spectators as Mercury's sojourn between Earth and Sun could be seen as a small dot. The red planet’s seven-and-a-half-hour glide was visible across the sun, from western Europe, north-western Africa and much of the Americas.
Australasia, far eastern Asia and Antarctica remained the only landmasses that missed this rare event. Reason being mercury is so small just one-third as big as Earth and, from our perspective, therefore its transit needed serious magnification.
Viewing this transit could also result in permanent eye damage filtered telescopes were installed at appropriate places to view the rare celestial event. (Also Read: Mercury Transit 2016: When will it begin and how it affects us? )
Though transits are seen as of immense importance but this one did not present any novel opportunities to scientists.
The red planet of Mercury completes an orbit every 88 days, and passes between the Earth and the Sun every 116 days. The last Mercury lineup was 10 years ago, and the next will be in 2019, followed by 2032 and 2049. ( Also Read: Mercury to be spotted as a small dot passing, it happens only 13 times in a century )
