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New York Today: Mercury on the Move | New York Today: Mercury on the Move |
(35 minutes later) | |
Updated, 10:47 a.m. | |
Greetings, earthlings, on this blustery Monday. | Greetings, earthlings, on this blustery Monday. |
Look up, New York: Mercury is traversing the sun this morning. | Look up, New York: Mercury is traversing the sun this morning. |
Astronomers refer to this as the Mercury transit, and it will continue until 2:42 p.m. | Astronomers refer to this as the Mercury transit, and it will continue until 2:42 p.m. |
The last time Mercury zipped across the sun was in 2006, and it won’t happen again for another decade or two, said Jason Kendall, a professor of astronomy and physics at William Paterson University who is a board member at the Amateur Astronomers Association of New York. | The last time Mercury zipped across the sun was in 2006, and it won’t happen again for another decade or two, said Jason Kendall, a professor of astronomy and physics at William Paterson University who is a board member at the Amateur Astronomers Association of New York. |
“These are very rare events, and it’s even more rare that we get to watch the whole thing,” he said. “The next one might be visible, but it surely won’t be visible from New York.” | “These are very rare events, and it’s even more rare that we get to watch the whole thing,” he said. “The next one might be visible, but it surely won’t be visible from New York.” |
It’s a strange, mysterious world on Mercury. | It’s a strange, mysterious world on Mercury. |
It’s the innermost planet in our solar system — that is, the closest to the sun — and has no atmosphere. Its temperature can swing from 800 degrees Fahrenheit to minus 200 at night, Professor Kendall said. | It’s the innermost planet in our solar system — that is, the closest to the sun — and has no atmosphere. Its temperature can swing from 800 degrees Fahrenheit to minus 200 at night, Professor Kendall said. |
Enormous volcanoes erupted across its surface billions of years ago, yet the icy craters at the north pole of Mercury, where the sun never shines, are some of the coldest places in the solar system, he added. | Enormous volcanoes erupted across its surface billions of years ago, yet the icy craters at the north pole of Mercury, where the sun never shines, are some of the coldest places in the solar system, he added. |
During today’s transit, Mercury will look like a moving freckle on the sun. | During today’s transit, Mercury will look like a moving freckle on the sun. |
But don’t stare straight at it with sunglasses or binoculars: You’ll need the help of a solar telescope, which Professor Kendall and other astronomers have set up across the city. | But don’t stare straight at it with sunglasses or binoculars: You’ll need the help of a solar telescope, which Professor Kendall and other astronomers have set up across the city. |
Where to watch: Carl Schurz Park, Inwood Hill Park, High Bridge, Central Park, Fort Greene Park, Museum of Natural History and the High Line. | Where to watch: Carl Schurz Park, Inwood Hill Park, High Bridge, Central Park, Fort Greene Park, Museum of Natural History and the High Line. |
Here’s what else is happening: | Here’s what else is happening: |
Mother Nature is on the fence. | Mother Nature is on the fence. |
She’s given us back our blue skies, with temperatures to match: Today’s high is 73. | She’s given us back our blue skies, with temperatures to match: Today’s high is 73. |
But curb the urge to throw on a sundress or shorts. Strong winds should whip through the city and could create gusts of up to 30 miles per hour this afternoon. | But curb the urge to throw on a sundress or shorts. Strong winds should whip through the city and could create gusts of up to 30 miles per hour this afternoon. |
Hair forecast: naturally blow-dried. | Hair forecast: naturally blow-dried. |
• City schools are struggling with new state rules to improve the academic standing of children whose first language is not English. [New York Times] | • City schools are struggling with new state rules to improve the academic standing of children whose first language is not English. [New York Times] |
• Members of the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava, destroyed last week in a fire, came together to worship at a new parish. [New York Times] | • Members of the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava, destroyed last week in a fire, came together to worship at a new parish. [New York Times] |
• The Jersey tomato, cast aside by the demands of new harvesting technologies in the 1960s, has been brought back to life by Rutgers University. [New York Times] | • The Jersey tomato, cast aside by the demands of new harvesting technologies in the 1960s, has been brought back to life by Rutgers University. [New York Times] |
• Kindergarten and first-grade chess players from Public School 77 on the Upper East Side came from behind to win the National Elementary Championship. [New York Times] | • Kindergarten and first-grade chess players from Public School 77 on the Upper East Side came from behind to win the National Elementary Championship. [New York Times] |
• As part of a series documenting murders in the 40th Precinct in the Bronx, Times reporters examine the death of one man shot in the back last year. [New York Times] | • As part of a series documenting murders in the 40th Precinct in the Bronx, Times reporters examine the death of one man shot in the back last year. [New York Times] |
• Scoreboard: Lightning zap Islanders, 4-0, in Game 5 of the Eastern conference semifinal series, ending the Islanders’ longest playoff run in 23 years. Mets rebel against Padres, 4-3. New York City F.C. divide D.C. United, 2-0. Red Sox stain Yankees, 5-1. | • Scoreboard: Lightning zap Islanders, 4-0, in Game 5 of the Eastern conference semifinal series, ending the Islanders’ longest playoff run in 23 years. Mets rebel against Padres, 4-3. New York City F.C. divide D.C. United, 2-0. Red Sox stain Yankees, 5-1. |
• For a global look at what’s happening, see Your Monday Briefing. | • For a global look at what’s happening, see Your Monday Briefing. |
• A blood drive and bone marrow registry, hosted by the M.T.A. Metro-North Railroad and New York Blood Center, at Vanderbilt Hall in Grand Central Terminal. 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. | • A blood drive and bone marrow registry, hosted by the M.T.A. Metro-North Railroad and New York Blood Center, at Vanderbilt Hall in Grand Central Terminal. 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. |
• Visit the Butterfly Conservatory at the American Museum of Natural History on the Upper West Side. 10 a.m. [$22] | • Visit the Butterfly Conservatory at the American Museum of Natural History on the Upper West Side. 10 a.m. [$22] |
• Kids can play Wii, PS3 and Xbox games to their hearts’ content, after school at the Bronx Library Center. 4 p.m. [Free] | • Kids can play Wii, PS3 and Xbox games to their hearts’ content, after school at the Bronx Library Center. 4 p.m. [Free] |
• Casino Night 2016, featuring a Texas Hold ’Em tournament with celebrity players, at the American Airlines Theater in Manhattan. 6:30 p.m. [Prices vary] | • Casino Night 2016, featuring a Texas Hold ’Em tournament with celebrity players, at the American Airlines Theater in Manhattan. 6:30 p.m. [Prices vary] |
• Ten Over 10, a rock ’n’ roll burlesque show, at Lucky 13 Saloon on Sackett Street in Brooklyn. 9:30 p.m. [Tickets start at $10] | • Ten Over 10, a rock ’n’ roll burlesque show, at Lucky 13 Saloon on Sackett Street in Brooklyn. 9:30 p.m. [Tickets start at $10] |
• Yankees host Royals, 7:05 p.m. (YES). Mets at Dodgers, 10:10 p.m. (SNY). | • Yankees host Royals, 7:05 p.m. (YES). Mets at Dodgers, 10:10 p.m. (SNY). |
• For more events, see The New York Times’s Arts & Entertainment guide. | • For more events, see The New York Times’s Arts & Entertainment guide. |
7 trains are running with delays. | |
• Subway and PATH | • Subway and PATH |
• Railroads: L.I.R.R., Metro-North, N.J. Transit, Amtrak | • Railroads: L.I.R.R., Metro-North, N.J. Transit, Amtrak |
• Roads: Check traffic map or radio report on the 1s or the 8s. | • Roads: Check traffic map or radio report on the 1s or the 8s. |
• Alternate-side parking: in effect until May 30. | • Alternate-side parking: in effect until May 30. |
• Ferries: Staten Island Ferry, New York Waterway, East River Ferry | • Ferries: Staten Island Ferry, New York Waterway, East River Ferry |
• Airports: La Guardia, J.F.K., Newark | • Airports: La Guardia, J.F.K., Newark |
If you’re too crunched for time to get behind a solar telescope today, there are other goings-on coming to a sky near you. | If you’re too crunched for time to get behind a solar telescope today, there are other goings-on coming to a sky near you. |
These coming events will be visible from New York. | These coming events will be visible from New York. |
Simply look up and admire. | Simply look up and admire. |
May 21 brings us a blue moon next to Mars — the second full moon in a calendar month, Professor Kendall said. | May 21 brings us a blue moon next to Mars — the second full moon in a calendar month, Professor Kendall said. |
And Mars will be at opposition on May 22, meaning it will be directly across from the sun, and at its biggest and brightest, he added. | And Mars will be at opposition on May 22, meaning it will be directly across from the sun, and at its biggest and brightest, he added. |
The Perseid meteor shower will take place in August, and late that month you’ll also see a conjunction of Venus and Jupiter, a beautiful view of the two planets strikingly close together. | The Perseid meteor shower will take place in August, and late that month you’ll also see a conjunction of Venus and Jupiter, a beautiful view of the two planets strikingly close together. |
There’s always the super moon in November. | There’s always the super moon in November. |
And if you spot any U.F.O.s or aliens throughout, let us know. | And if you spot any U.F.O.s or aliens throughout, let us know. |
New York Today is a weekday roundup that stays live from 6 a.m. till late morning. You can receive it via email. | New York Today is a weekday roundup that stays live from 6 a.m. till late morning. You can receive it via email. |
For updates throughout the day, like us on Facebook. | For updates throughout the day, like us on Facebook. |
What would you like to see here to start your day? Post a comment, email us at nytoday@nytimes.com, or reach us via Twitter using #NYToday. | What would you like to see here to start your day? Post a comment, email us at nytoday@nytimes.com, or reach us via Twitter using #NYToday. |
Follow the New York Today columnists, Alexandra Levine and Jonathan Wolfe, on Twitter. | Follow the New York Today columnists, Alexandra Levine and Jonathan Wolfe, on Twitter. |
You can find the latest New York Today at nytoday.com. | You can find the latest New York Today at nytoday.com. |