What is the “eye of the bull” in relation to the moon and Mercury?
What exactly is happening?
On early Friday morning, the 9th of April 2021, the moon and Mercury will be meeting in the constellation Taurus in the bright red ‘eye of the bull’, which is also known as the star Aldebaran. This is a rare event and a great opportunity for stargazers to witness this conjunction.
What is a conjunction?
A conjunction is when two celestial bodies come close together in the sky. In this case, the moon and Mercury will pass each other in the night sky. These conjunctions happen quite often, but this particular one is unique because it’s happening in a specific location in the sky, and the two bodies are going to be very close to each other.
What is Aldebaran?
Aldebaran is the 13th brightest star in the skies and the brightest star in the Taurus constellation. It’s located about 65 light-years from us and can be easily spotted in the night sky as the bright red ‘eye of the bull’. It’s a giant star, about 44 times the size of our sun, and is believed to be about 1.5 billion years old.
What time is the event happening?
The exact time of the event varies depending on your location. For those in the Eastern time zone, the moon and Mercury will meet at around 6:30 a.m. EST. For those in the Central time zone, it will be around 5:30 a.m. CST. In the Pacific time zone, it will be around 3:30 a.m. PDT. It’s important to note that you should look towards the east to see this conjunction.
How to see the event?
To see the event, stargazers can use binoculars or a small telescope. It’s also recommended to find a dark location with little to no light pollution. If you’re not an experienced stargazer, it might be helpful to download a star map app on your smartphone to help guide you.
Conclusion
, which is a unique event that stargazers won’t want to miss. With the right equipment and location, you can witness this rare conjunction and marvel at the wonders of our universe.
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