Oman- Enthusiasts witness transit of Mercury across Sun

Date

5/10/2016 5:44:35 AM

(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Muscat-

Astronomy enthusiasts across Oman witnessed Mercury going across the Sun from 3.13pm till 6pm on Monday.

Many stargazers gathered at the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque to watch this rare celestial phenomenon.

Ammar al Rawahi deputy chairman of the Oman Astronomical Society (OAS) said 'It was an exciting day for all of us. We used five telescopes and an equal number of cameras to watch this rare phenomenon at the mosque. Cameras and telescopes were also positioned in Nizwa Salalah Rustaq and Manah to track this celestial phenomenon.'

The celestial event drew people from different nationalities who came to enjoy the rare phenomenon at the mosque. Badr A an Indian expatriate said 'I came with my family. It was a great opportunity for my children to learn about such celestial phenomena.'

Mundhir Rashed al Maamari an Omani student said 'I'minterested in such events. I will write about what I saw on my Twitter and Facebook accounts' he said adding that such events help those students who are keen to know more about heavenly bodies.

Sulaiman al Busaidi a member of OAS said that the last time Mercury made a transit across the face of the Sun was in 2006.

'It occurs in a pair. The transit on May 9 is the first of the pair with the next one slated on November 11 2019.

'After 2019 we will have to wait until November 13 2032 to see another transit of Mercury.

'The phenomenon is important as it happens only 13 times every 100 years. It occurs in May or November. The rare event is particularly important for those who are keen to know more about the solar system.'

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