Mercury just finished its passage across the sun, clocking in at 105,947 mph and 800 degrees - Gainesville Times

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Mercury just finished its passage across the sun, clocking in at 105,947 mph and 800 degrees

On May 9, 2016, Mercury passed directly between the sun and Earth. This event — which happens about 13 times each century — is called a transit. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory studies the sun and captured the entire seven-and-a-half-hour event. This composite image of Mercury’s journey across the sun was created with visible-light images from the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager on SDO. Photo courtesy NASA.

On May 9, 2016, Mercury passed directly between the sun and Earth. This event — which happens about 13 times each century — is called a transit. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory studies the sun and captured the entire seven-and-a-half-hour event. This composite image of Mercury’s journey across the sun was created with visible-light images from the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager on SDO. Photo courtesy NASA.

Many people go a lifetime without seeing Mercury.