Friday May 10, 2024

Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation (before sunrise)

On Friday, May 10, Mercury (orbit shown in red) will reach its greatest
angle (26.4 degrees) from the morning sun and maximum visibility for its current morning apparition. With Mercury positioned in the eastern sky and
well below the tilted morning ecliptic, this appearance of the innermost
planet will be a poor one for Northern Hemisphere observers, but an
excellent one for those viewing from the tropics and the Southern
Hemisphere. The optimal viewing times at mid-northern latitudes will start around 5:15 a.m. local time. Viewed in a telescope the planet will exhibit a waxing, almost half-illuminated phase.

(Data courtesy of Starry Night)
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