Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation

See the innermost planet of the Solar system in the dawn sky this August. Friday morning is a perfect time to observe it. Here are some observing tips.

On August 9, Mercury will reach its greatest western elongation. It means that the smallest planet reaches its widest separation, 19 degrees west of the Sun, for the current apparition. At that time Mercury will peak in visibility, shining at the magnitude of -0.1. You can easily see it with your naked eye sitting low in the east-northeast sky 45 minutes just before sunrise.

Starting from the following day all throughout August Mercury will appear in the morning sky. Moreover, in the next few days you should be able to see its highest position in the predawn sky. Don’t forget that Mercury always appears very close to the Sun in the sky and it is quite difficult to observe. Of course, with binoculars or a telescope, you can get a closer look. But be careful, it is very dangerous to look in the direction of the Sun!

With Star Walk 2 app you can identify live position of Mercury or any other celestial object. Make sure that you’ve set your current location in settings.

Keep up our news and enjoy the night sky!