Mercury is a difficult thing to see in the night sky.
orbits such a small planet Sunday That star’s blazing light drives Mercury out of sight from Earth. We can see the planet only when it is at maximum elongation, or its farthest point from the Sun – this happens a few times a year.
Fortunately, we’re fast approaching Mercury’s next greatest elongation (January 30), which means the planet will be visible in the night sky for the next few weeks. And on January 24, Mercury will reach its highest altitude during this January-February. visibility period.
From New York City, Mercury will appear 14 degrees above the horizon at sunrise on January 24, according to the skywatching site. In-the-sky.org (opens in new tab), It’s about the width of a fist and a half out at arm’s length. As far as the mercury goes, that elevation is about average — its maximum elevation ranges from 11 to 19 degrees.
Connected: Mercury: facts about the closest planet to the Sun
When it reaches its highest altitude, Mercury will appear somewhat brighter at a magnitude of about -0.2. But as it approaches maximum elongation, it will brighten, although it will appear lower in the sky.
It won’t take you long to see Mercury either. On January 24, Mercury rises only at 5:36 a.m. EST (1036 GMT) — about an hour and a half before sunrise. Eventually, the Sun’s light will drown out Mercury in the sky.
But this brevity is true of nearly all Mercury sightings. The planet is always visible in twilight, alternating between dawn and dusk with each at greatest magnification. Mercury’s next transit will be in the evening of April 11, so mark your calendars now.
To get the best view of Mercury, you’ll need to use a telescope. Check out our helpful guide to Best Binoculars for Planet Viewing If you’re in the market for a new device. If you want to take some pictures of the planet, check out our best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography.
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