astronomy
Discover How to Spot the Elusive Planet Mercury at Its Greatest Eastern Elongation on April 11
The planet Mercury is set to reach its greatest eastern elongation of 19° on April 11, marking one of the best opportunities for skywatchers to get a glimpse of the elusive planet. While Mercury’s orbit is interior to Earth’s, making it difficult to spot most nights, evenings within about a week of April 11 will offer optimal viewing conditions.
At sunset on April 11, Mercury will be 19° above the western horizon and will begin to appear against the darkening sky. This will be the best opportunity for skywatchers to view the planet, as it will set just 1 hour and 33 minutes afterward, at 8:29 PM.
Mercury’s orbit is unique in that it is close enough to the Sun that it never wanders far from the Sun in our sky. On most nights, Mercury rises or sets so close to the Sun that it’s impossible to spot. But during times of maximum elongation, when the angle between planet and Sun in the sky is at its widest, Mercury remains above the horizon after the sky becomes dark, making it visible to skywatchers.
Mercury’s maximum elongation occurs about three times a year, with the planet reaching its greatest elongation of either 18° or 28° from the Sun, depending on its position in its orbit. During these times, skywatchers have the best chance to observe Mercury with the naked eye, or through a telescope or binoculars.
While Mercury may be difficult to spot on most nights, its unique orbit and position in the sky make it a fascinating planet to observe during times of maximum elongation. So mark your calendars for April 11 and take advantage of this rare opportunity to view Mercury in all its glory.
https://earthsky.org/tonight/mercury-after-sunset-greatest-elongation-east/