Mercury, the Bashful Planet

As the innermost planet, Mercury is usually hidden in the overpowering glare of the sun. Only for a few days on each side of its orbit -- every month or two -- does this tiny planet rise above the glow of twilight. But at those times, if you know when and where to look, it is fairly easy to see with the unaided eye. In this photo, Mercury can be seen to the lower right of the crescent moon.

Date: March 11, 2005
Time: 7:18 pm MST
Location: near Florence, Arizona
Camera: Olympus OM-1 35mm SLR on fixed tripod
Film: Fuji Provia 100F slide
Focal length: 50 mm
Aperture: f/4
Exposure time: 8 seconds
Scanner: Nikon Coolscan LS-2000 (cropped)