Do Mercury, Venus, and Earth ever line up?

Question

If the planets are all in the same solar plane going around the sun in the same direction at different speeds, shouldn't we once in a while be able to view in eclipse in which we can't see Mercury because Venus is in the way? It seems to me this should happen at least once a year. Do the planets not line up that well? I've never heard of it happening, but it would be cool to see. I'm guessing it happens but it would have to happen during the day so we wouldn't be able to see it.

Answer 1

occasionally, mercury and venus do individually come between the earth and sun, but i have never heard that they have both been there at the same time.

look here for venus
http://skyandtelescope.com/printable/news/article_1279.asp

look here for mercury
http://skyandtelescope.com/printable/observing/objects/planets/article_953.asp

Answer 2

Not all the planets are perfectly lined up on a flat plane. That's a myth that arises because its the easiest way to show a diagram of the solar system. Thus, an event where Earth, Mercury, and Venus line up in front of the sun is not possible.

Answer 3

this does happen, just not every year, more like once every few dozen years, or maybe centuries (im not sure), plus pluto is not on the same plane as the rest of the planets

it takes the gas giants (furthest planets away from the sun, except for pluto) hundreds of years to orbit the sun, and they dont orbit at the same speed, so if you wanna see a line up of all the planets, you will probably have to wait a few thousand years

Answer 4

Due to the different orbital velocities the planets rarely come close to lining up.I think it was back in the 80's that so many people went nuts because all of the planets were supposed to line up and the increase in tidal forces would cause havoc on Earth.Of course nothing like that happened.The planets did not actually line up in a row,they were 100's of thousands of miles from lining up,but it was as close as it's going to get in our lifetime.

Answer 5

Mercury transits the solar 13 situations per century. Venus transits two times in 116 years, with the 2nd purely a pair months from now. even however, in the two circumstances, the planet is merely a tiny dot moving around the face of the solar. Given the relative sizes, it ought to no longer be in any different case

Answer 6

Yes, they align.... In fact you CAN see mecury often at daybreak...The best would be to get a book of astronomy which shows exactly, and many other interesting things on this subject.

Good luck....

Answer 7

Yes. Their mothers tell them all to line up in row and it takes them 50 years to finally do it.

LOL. Thought I would put something funny.

Answer 8

yes

Answer 9

i've had it does. check out ask jeeves, maybe they have an accurate answer