Mercury will pass across the face of the Sun on 9 May 2016 and again on 11 November 2019. Both of these transits will be visible from the UK and western Europe. Mercury is also the target of the European Space Agency’s mission BepiColombo. This is a joint enterprise with the Japanese space agency (JAXA) that is due to arrive in orbit about Mercury in 2024.


So why all the interest in Mercury, the closest planet to our Sun?
In this series of videos scientists share their enthusiasm with you, inspired by some of the surprises revealed by NASA’s recent MESSENGER mission to Mercury. They will explain why Mercury has them baffled and excited, and talk about how they got involved and the special nature of working in a multinational team.
You will also meet some of those responsible for building BepiColombo’s X-ray spectrometer, the project’s UK-led instrument.
We also show you how to watch a transit of Mercury safely (without damaging your eyes). Live images of the 9 May 2016 transit will be streamed over the internet, so you will be able to watch even if it is cloudy where you are, but why not try to see it with your own eyes too by joining a local event? Visit the ESA BepiColombo site for links and information.
Discover Mercury
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The Open University under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 license
Discover Mercury: Safety advice for the Transit of Mercury
If you're planning on watching the Transit of Mercury, it's vital to take some basic steps to protect your sight. Here's some advice on how.
Watch nowDiscover Mercury: Safety advice for the Transit of MercuryVideo
Level: 1 Introductory
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The Open University under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 license
Discover Mercury: Why study Mercury?
What is it about Mercury that rewards a closer look?
Watch nowDiscover Mercury: Why study Mercury?Video
Level: 1 Introductory
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The Open University under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 license
Discover Mercury: The BepiColombo mission
An introduction to 2017's BepiColombo mission.
Watch nowDiscover Mercury: The BepiColombo missionVideo
Level: 1 Introductory
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The Open University under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 license
Discover Mercury: What questions will BepiColombo try to answer?
We don't know very much about Mercury, so there's a lot for BepiColombo to investigate...
Watch nowDiscover Mercury: What questions will BepiColombo try to answer?Video
Level: 1 Introductory
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The Open University under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 license
Discover Mercury: BepiColombo's instruments
A closer look at the instruments that BepiColombo has been tricked out with.
Watch nowDiscover Mercury: BepiColombo's instrumentsVideo
Level: 1 Introductory
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The Open University under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 license
Discover Mercury: The MESSENGER project
NASA's MESSENGER visited Mercury in 2015. Here's a little about that project.
Watch nowDiscover Mercury: The MESSENGER projectVideo
Level: 1 Introductory
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The Open University under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 license
Discover Mercury: Volcanism, faults and hollows
What do we already know - or think we know - about the geology of Mercury?
Watch nowDiscover Mercury: Volcanism, faults and hollowsVideo
Level: 1 Introductory
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The Open University under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 license
Discover Mercury: International collaboration
The journey to another world relies on co-operation all around this one.
Watch nowDiscover Mercury: International collaborationVideo
Level: 1 Introductory
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The Open University under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 license
Discover Mercury: What inspires and drives you?
What is it about Mercury that attracts scientists to study the planet?
Watch nowDiscover Mercury: What inspires and drives you?Video
Level: 1 Introductory
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The Open University under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 license
Discover Mercury: Why spend the money?
It's not cheap to send spacecraft to Mercury - how do you justify the expense?
Watch nowDiscover Mercury: Why spend the money?Video
Level: 1 Introductory
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Certificate in Astronomy and Planetary Science
If you’re fascinated by astronomy and planetary science, this certificate course provides a good basic introduction and equips you with the skills for further study. In the first module you’ll investigate the stars and their life cycles; galaxies and quasars; and the origin and evolution of the universe – and how it might continue to evolve in the future. In the second and final module, you’ll look at the exploration of the solar system by spacecraft; planetary processes such as volcanism and impacts; the structure of planets and their atmospheres; and asteroids, comets and meteorites. The Certificate in Astronomy and Planetary Science is endorsed by the Royal Astronomical Society.
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