"Spot Mercury: January's New Moon Showcases the Elusive Planet at Its Brightest"

The planet Mercury will reach its greatest elongation from the sun on Friday, making it more easily visible from Earth. This event will occur at around 10 a.m. EST, with Mercury appearing in the constellation of Sagittarius. Following this, Mercury will continue to brighten until February before slipping back into the glare of the sun. Skywatchers interested in observing Mercury or other celestial objects can refer to guides on telescopes, binoculars, and astrophotography.