Mercury seen over Yorkshire

Mercury seen over Yorkshire 

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer Saturday 10^th March 1906

Mercury Visible

To the Editor of the Yorkshire Post, Sir-

Many of your reader may be interested to know that the planet Mercury was seen just over the horizon at 6.20 this (Thursday) evening here. He was easily visible to the naked eye, yours etc STAR-GAZER

Scarborough March 8^th

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer Monday 12^th March 1906

MERCURY VISIBLE

To the Editor of the Yorkshire Post, Sir- If was STAR GAZER (of Scarborough) himself who saw the planet Mercury at 6.20 Thursday evening last, then I congratulate him upon the performance of the feat. If it was not STAR GAZER then the letter is not quite clear the point—then I congratulate theother fellow." The sun had been 32 minutes, and the planet set about of three quarters of an hour after being glimpsed.

It is enough to make that astronomic giant. Copernicus. turn in his grave. Great astronomer as he was he never had the satisfaction—so the tradition says- of seeing the sparkling planet under any circumstances whatever. But then, did not live at Scarborough.— Yours, etc.. J H ELGIE F .R.A.S. Leeds.

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer Tuesday13^th March 1906

MERCURY VISIBLE

Sir.—Mr. Elgie doubts my having seen Mercury last Thursday at 6.30. If it had been an ordinary occurrence I should not have called attention to it. Let Mr. Elgie imagine the conditions a perfectly clear western horizon, a strong north-west gale having been blowing all day. An observer on the watch for the planet and looking in the right place, a sweep of open country before him.

Jupiter was well visible of course Aldebaran just visible. A and B Arietts not yet so and Mars not yet so. if Iremember rightly.

Can Mr. Elgie name a star in Pisces that I could possibly have mistaken for the planet?

Copernicus did not in Scarborough, quite true. If he had hie would have seen Mercury many times, for I saw him at least half a dozen times last year from the same spot, and you can't mistake his ruddy flash.

I think Sir Robert Ball says first magnitude stars may be seen with the Sun 5 degrees below the horizon. On this occasion I roughly calculate the Sun would be 6 degrees below and Mercury about 7 degrees above. On point, however, not profess to speak with precision. Yours, etc.. STAR-GAZER. Scarborough. March 12.

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer Wednesday 14^th March 1906

Sir,—Mercury was well here to-night (Monday), from 6.15 p.m. to 7.35 p.m., when it became obscured by light clouds. It was of course,by this time nearly set.

I can understand "Star-Gazar," of Scarborough having seen it on Thursday evening last if he had anything of a clear night. After viewing this some what difficult object in the telescope, I read off right and declination circles the telescope and found they corresponded with those given in the Nautical Almanac, allowing a little, of course, for the planet's motion from the epoch, for which the N.A. times are given—which proves that Mercury was the object seen.—Yours, etc..

H. FIELDEN. Member the Leeds Astronomical .Society. 67, Bootham, York.