2026年2月28日
Lunar Occultation of Mercury
Image Credit & Copyright: Fabrizio Melandri
Explanation: Fans of the western sky after sunset have lately enjoyed this month’s remarkable array of bright planets. Witnessed from some locations, on February 18 planet Mercury even appeared to slide behind the Moon, an event known as a lunar occultation. These two snapshots, taken in early evening skies show before and after telescopic views of the rare disappearance of innermost planet behind young Moon. The top panel finds bright Mercury just visible at the northern (right) edge of the earthshine-illuminated lunar disk. In the bottom panel the bright planet has emerged in darker skies beyond the Moon’s sunlit crescent. As seen south of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, planet Earth, this lunar occultation of Mercury lasted only about 3 minutes (video). But you can still check out a parade of planets tonight.
March 3: Total Lunar Eclipse
Tomorrow’s picture: moon dark
月掩水星
影像提供与版权: Fabrizio Melandri
说明: 近来，西方天空的观星者在日落后有幸欣赏到本月罕见而壮观的多颗明亮行星同台，场面有如一场行星巡礼。部分地区于2月18日，水星甚至看起来悄然滑入月盘之后，这种现象称为月掩星。这两张傍晚天空拍摄的影像，呈现这次罕见的消失与重现的前后望远镜视图；当时太阳系的最内侧行星被年轻的新月短暂遮蔽。在上方影格，可见明亮的水星出现在月盘北侧（画面右侧）边缘，昏暗月面映着地球照的微光。在下方影格，水星已从月亮受日照的娥眉旁跃出，于更暗的暮色天空中重新现身。这次自地球美国奥克拉荷马州萨利索以南观测到的月掩水星，历时仅约3分钟（可参考影片）。不过你仍可把握机会观赏今晚的行星巡礼。
