Mercury – Small but Mighty…
The following is a shortened excerpt of material was presented to subscribers in the January 2, 2015 E-Alert.
Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system. Mercury is also the closest to the Sun. As a result of its proximity to the powerful gravitational pull of the Sun, Mercury moves very quickly – completing an orbit of the Sun in 88 days.
Scientists at NASA have now concluded that Mercury does in fact have a di-polar magnetic field. This field is strong enough to deflect solar wind particles that have emanated from the Sun. These solar winds then carry on towards the Earth. Scientists have also determined that Mercury has an eccentric orbit in which its distance from the Sun will range from 46 million kms to 70 million kms. When Mercury is nearer to the Sun (ie… 46 million kms away), it is moving at its fastest (~56.6 kms per second). When Mercury is farther from the Sun (ie… 70 million kms away), it is moving slower (~38.7 kms per second). The point where it is nearest to the Sun is called Perihelion. The point where it is farthest from the Sun is called Aphelion.
One must also consider the Superior and Inferior Conjunctions of Mercury. When Mercury is between the Earth and the Sun, it is in Inferior Conjunction. When Sun is between Earth and Mercury, then Mercury is said to be at Superior Conjunction. It helps to think of Mercury at Inferior Conjunction as being the start of a new 88 day cycle.
The following charts of the S&P 500 and also of Gold illustrate the influence of Mercury.
I have overlaid these charts with Mercury greatest east and West elongation points (labelled E and W), Mercury Perihelion and Aphelion points (labelled P and A) as well as Superior and Inferior Conjunctions (labelled Inf and Sup).
The following list is dates to watch for when Mercury will be at a key part of its orbit.
2015/05/07 Mercury Greatest Elongation East
2015/05/30 Mercury Inferior Conjunction
2015/06/02 Mercury Aphelion
2015/06/24 Mercury Greatest Elongation West
2015/07/16 Mercury Perihelion
2015/07/23 Mercury Superior Conjunction
2015/08/29 Mercury Aphelion
2015/09/04 Mercury Greatest Elongation East
2015/09/30 Mercury Inferior Conjunction
