Mercury, the innermost planet of the solar system, is never an easy planet to catch. But as seen from Earth, this planet will swing to its greatest morning elongation – its farthest point west of the sun – tomorrow morning.

Because this world is now rising a maximum amount of time before sunrise, the first few weeks of October 2009 will present your best chance to spot Mercury in the morning sky for the rest of this year. At mid-northern latitudes, Mercury now rises about 1.5 hours before the sun.

To locate Mercury, find an unobstructed horizon in the direction of sunrise, and get up at least an hour before the sun. Look east, rather close to the horizon, for a blazing point of light that’s far brighter than any star. That’s the planet Venus, the sky’s most brilliant celestial body after the sun and the moon. Look to the lower left of Venus and closer to the horizon for Mercury.

Although Mercury is as bright as a brilliant star, it pales next to Venus. In fact, if you can’t see Mercury with the eye alone, try binoculars. Then see if you can spot even fainter Saturn to the lower left of Mercury!

Rising time of the sun and planets into your sky

Written by Bruce McClure

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