In his inimitable, easy-going style, Patrick Moore describes Mercury. He writes of the professional astronomers who have observed it over the centuries, amateur observations, and the past, present and future space missions to this extraordinary world. In doing so he has written the most up-to-date book about Mercury for amateur astronomers. Mercury is one of the more difficult objects for astronomers to observe because of its close proximity to the Sun. However, amateur astronomers can see the planet and its ever-changing phases all year, and sometimes watch it transit the Sun - the next transit is in November 2006, followed by one in May 2016.

Mercury is one of the more difficult objects for amateur astronomers to observe because of its close proximity to the Sun. For the same reason, it is also one of the most fascinating and strange planets. Mercury is not much larger that our Moon, but orbits the Sun at an average distance of only 58 million km, compared to the Earth's 150 million km. On its sunlit side, Mercury's surface temperature can exceed 450C while the night side freezes at 180C.

Amateur astronomers can see Mercury and its ever-changing phases all year, and sometimes watch it transit the Sun the next transit is in November 2006, followed by one in May 2016.

In his inimitable, easy-going style, Patrick Moore describes Mercury, the professional astronomers who have observed it over the centuries, amateur observations, and the past, present and future space missions to this extraordinary world.