MERCURY: The Hidden Messenger Revealed in My Best Shot Yet
Our solar system's innermost planet, Mercury, often gets overlooked, a true hidden messenger racing around the Sun. Today, I'm thrilled to share what I believe is my best shot of Mercury ever, a culmination of meticulous planning and execution. This image represents a significant milestone in my astrophotography journey.
A Challenging Capture
Capturing Mercury is notoriously difficult. At a mere 23 degrees above the horizon, with the sun just 4 degrees up, the window of opportunity is incredibly small. My location, unfortunately, presents further challenges with trees and houses obstructing wider views, making this a 'one-shot-at-this' scenario.
To tackle the atmospheric challenges and bring out the planetary details, I employed specific filtering techniques. An IR pass filter (685nm) was used to enhance surface features, while an IR UV Cut filter ensured color accuracy. This dual approach was key to achieving the clarity you see.
Technical Details & Processing
My setup for this session included:
- SCOPE: ORION XXG 16 DOB
- CAMERA: Player One Neptune 664C
- ACCESSORIES: ZWO ADC / 3x Televue Barlow
- FILTERS: SVBONY UV/IR CUT and IR PASS 685
- SEEING: EXCELLENT
The capture involved a total of 3 minutes of RGB data (250fps, 14% histogram) and 9 minutes of IR pass data (3 minutes of SER video each). Maintaining a consistent 14% histogram throughout the capture was crucial to avoid blowing out the planet's edges and core, allowing for maximum detail retention.
During processing, even before stacking in Photoshop (PS), the bright regions near the top of the planet were immediately striking. This observation was also present in the live view, confirming their genuine presence.
For stacking, I utilized Winjupos, comparing the results with their provided data for in-depth analysis. The stacking process involved selecting 10% of 40,000 frames, enhanced with 1.5x drizzle to preserve an extraordinary amount of detail.
The final touches, including color calibration in PS, led me to believe this represents Mercury's actual color. The process was arduous, but the result speaks for itself.
A Glimpse into Our First Planet
This image offers a rare and detailed look at Mercury, a planet that often hides in plain sight. I encourage you to compare the stacked image with the Winjupos data and explore the secrets of our solar system's closest planet. It's a privilege to share this with you all. Enjoy!
Acquisition Time: August 20, 2025, 13:42 UTC
