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Greatest Elongation

All articles tagged with #greatest elongation

astronomy2 years ago

"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.

astronomy2 years ago

Don't Miss Mercury's Peak Visibility Tonight!

Mercury will reach its highest point in the evening sky tonight (April 11), with the closest planet to the sun shining brightly. During its high ascent over Earth, Mercury will be shining at a magnitude of -0.0, according to In the Sky. That's quite bright for the little planet, though it will still be tough to see. Skywatchers should make an effort, however, for good chances to see Mercury aren't terribly common; because Mercury's orbit brings the planet close to the sun, it is normally lost in the glare from our star.