THE SODIUM TAIL OF MERCURY: Mercury has sprouted a tail. Intense sunlight is blowing material away from the planet, turning Mercury into a kind of oversized comet. This week is a great time to observe the phenomenon as the tail is expected to reach maximum brightness around May 13th. Observing tips @ Spaceweather.com.
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Above: Mercury's tail, photographed on May 5, 2021, by Andrea Alessandrini of Veroli, Italy.
