Doha: The smallest planet in the solar system, Mercury, is set to align with the ringed planet Saturn in the State of Qatar's skies and other nations of the Arab region on April 10. During this event, Mercury will appear at an angular separation of 2.1 degrees north of Saturn, as reported by Qatar Calendar House (QCH).

According to Qatar News Agency, QCH's astronomical expert, Dr. Bashir Marzouq, explained that residents of the Arab region, including Qatar, will have the opportunity to observe Mercury with the naked eye at its closest point. The conjunction will be visible by looking at the eastern horizon from the time of their rise until just before sunrise over Qatar.

Dr. Marzouq further mentioned that Mercury and Saturn are expected to rise at 4:13 a.m., while sunrise will occur at 5:17 a.m. local Doha time. He emphasized that such celestial phenomena are best observed from areas free from light and environmental pollution, as Mercury is typically difficult to see due to its proximity to the Sun and the resulting solar glare.

Additionally, Dr. Marzouq highlighted the significance of this celestial event, which provides an optimal observational window for the simultaneous detection, tracking, and high-resolution imaging of both Mercury and Saturn at their point of closest apparent angular proximity on the celestial sphere.

The event serves as a demonstration of the accuracy of orbital mechanics and ephemeris computations used to model the trajectories of solar system bodies. It offers a practical observational benchmark for amateur astronomers in Qatar and the broader Arab region, facilitating the targeted identification and monitoring of observable celestial objects in the night sky.