LIVE: Mercury Transit Across The Sun 2016

Our smallest planet has begun its transit.

Mercury has begun its transit across the sun - the only time out solar system's smallest planet will be visible against the surface in 2016.

Take a look at the livestream from the European Space Agency.

Over seven and a half hours, Mercury’s journey across the sun will be visible across north-western Africa, western Europe and most of the US.

Normally Mercury passes across the sun every 88 days, but usually is at the wrong angle meaning we can’t see it.

NASA advises not to look at the phenomenon without a solar filter or certified eclipse sunglasses.

To most people it will look like a dot because Mercury is 285 times smaller than the sun, and if you are in New Zealand, Australia and Indonesia, you will not be able to see it.

To read more about the transit, click here.

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