The Winged One
…as we’ve never seen him (or is that “it”) BEFORE:
Dramatic new pictures have revealed the unseen side of Mercury in detailed images taken from a Nasa spacecraft orbiting the planet.
Astronomers saw the “dark side” of Mercury for the very first time when the spacecraft flew within 125 miles of the planet’s surface and took 1,200 high resolution images.
The reason the solar system’s smallest planet is so elusive is due to its close proximity to the sun.
I’m really not sure “elusive” is the word we want to use there. The “dark side” could be described as elusive, perhaps. But the planet itself?
In related news, my kids have been listening to the Greek myths nearly non-stop TODAY. And in true precise fashion, Sean seems to have just a slightly better grasp on the stories than his brothers.
Papa: “So, what’s the story of Arachne about?”
Dominic: “It’s about a girl that gets turned into the first spider.”
Papa: “Why does that happen to her?”
Dominic: “Because she didn’t want to yarn any more.”
…
Sean: “Because she didn’t want to knit any more, Dominic.”
He always says it in such a friendly, matter-of-fact, “just-helping-you-out” kind of way. Good thing, because it would probably be well on its way to become a bit grating, otherwise. He’s so very, very perceptive and precise, and we tend to speak so very, very casually.
It’s elusive because it’s so near the sun (in terms of angular distance) that it’s very difficult to see. For example, right now (well, on the 21st) it will be as far as it ever gets from the sun during this cycle, only about 18.5 degrees, which makes it nearly impossible to see. By the time the sun has gone down (it’s an evening star now) enough to be dark enough to see a planet, mercury has gone down too. And that’s our best shot at him until next time. Elusive.
That’s a fair account of the term. Still, we know exactly where he is, right? Whether or not we have a hard time seeing him, we still have exact information as to his location, yes? (That’s why I don’t like “elusive.”)
i love your blog, great !