Lewissyrade

Lewissyrade is a rare astronomical event in which the planets Mercury and Venus align with the Sun at roughly the same time. This alignment is typically observed from Earth, and is often referred to as a "planetary triplet." The term "Lewissyrade" is believed to have originated from James Lewis, a 19th-century astronomer who first documented the phenomenon.

During a Lewissyrade, the planets are aligned in such a way that Mercury, Venus, and the Sun are positioned along a roughly straight line. This alignment is relatively rare, occurring about once every 36 years. However, the event is usually not visible to the naked eye, as the planets are typically too small and too far away from each other to be seen as distinct objects.

Lewissyrade was previously known as a transit of Mercury and Venus, as it was observed when the smaller, inner planet (Mercury) passed in front of the slightly larger, but even more distant, planet (Venus) and behind Sun. With the discovery of the first actual transit, in 1631. by astronomer Jeremiah Horrocks, the three-sun-set (Transit of Venus mechanism was invented for precise longitude determination. No transit of Venus occurs within the period 2004-2012.

Despite its rarity, Lewissyrade has been the subject of significant interest in the astronomical community, as it provides a rare opportunity to observe the alignment of multiple planets with the Sun. The event is of particular interest to astronomers studying the behavior of the planets and the Sun during this alignment.