Saturn will be approaching Mercury over the Qatar sky on Thursday, Qatar Calendar House (QCH) has said.
People in Qatar “will be able to observe Saturn very close to Mercury” over the western horizon of Qatar sky with the help of astronomical instruments, from places without any environmental and light pollution, from sunset time until the setting time of Mercury, according to a statement jointly issued by QCH director Dr Mohamed al-Ansari and noted astronomer Dr Beshir Marzouk.
While the sunset time is 4.44pm, the setting time of Mercury is 5.33pm in Doha, Dr Marzouk explains.
Further, the statement notes that Saturn will again approach Mercury on January 13, 2018. People in Qatar will have a good chance to observe Saturn and Mercury together with their naked eye over the eastern horizon of the dawn sky in Qatar - from the rising time of Mercury and Saturn until sunrise.
Mercury and Saturn will rise at 5am in Doha on that day, while sunrise will take place at 6.21am, Dr Marzouk adds.