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SPACE RESEARCH TRANSIT OF MERCURY ACTIVITY

Read the article below and answer the questions:
On Wednesday, November the 8th 2006 the planet Mercury passed directly in front of the
Sun. The transit was seen for 5 hours sand began at 2:12 pm EST The next transit of Venus will
occur on May the 9th 2016
The tiny planet of Mercury will only appear as a small dot in the bottom quarter on the
surface of the Sun but it will be completely black and perfectly round.The Sun cannot be
directly viewed during the transit and remains too dangerous to directly look at.
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The best way to look al the Sun is through a sun-safe H filter on a telescope, through eclipse
glasses or with a pinhole projector.The sun will appear as a boiling cauldron, dotted with
sunspots and filaments from magnetic fields. Mercury appeared as if it had to navigate this
fiery sea.

 

Mercury is a heavily cratered planet, however there is hardly anything known about the

Mercury is a heavily cratered planet, however there is hardly anything known about the planet The Mariner 10 spacecraft ‘flew past in the middle of the 1970s but only managed to photograph less tf#6 half of the planet There is one side of Mercury that has never been seen before.

Here is some information on :Mercury:
• The daylight surface temperature rises to 400°C.
• The temperature#,the polar craters can dip to as low as -200°C.
• Radar from Earth has discovered that there is a strong signal bouncing back from the polar craters. The most likely explanation is ice but this is not certain.
• There are wrinkles on the surface of Mercury called “lobate scarps”. This is suggested to be signs of shrinkage and that Mercury is collapsing in on itself, probably due to a huge iron core heating and contracting
.
The planet has large amounts of information yet to be revealed. It is a source of mystery and
intrigue. A large amount of astronomical research is yet to be conducted before Mercury
reveals more of its secrets.

QUESTIONS: TRANSIT OF MERCURY
Research some information to find out some interesting facts on one of the other planets of the
Solar System. Present the information in poster form and present it to the class.
Astronomical research presents a huge area of interesting projects and opportunities. This is one
area of science where the amateur can become involved and even possibly discover a new comet.
All it takes is a good telescope and a commitment in time to learn to navigate the heavens and
discover what is out there.

    When was the transit of Mercury?

    Describe what Mercury will look like as it passes over the surface of the Sun.

    Name 3 devices which would make it safe to look at the Sun.

    Why is it unsafe to look directly at the Sun even during the transit of Mercury?

    Name the spacecraft that flew past Mercury in the middle of the 1970s.

    From the information provided above draw a labelled picture of the planet Mercury.

    What is a lobate; scarp? Explain a possible reason for them to be present on the surface of Mercury.

    Research some information to find out some interesting facts on one of the other planets of the