Today Mercury will be at maximum eastern elongation, as high in the evening sky as it will appear for this current apparition. After today the planet will slide back into the sunset, passing through inferior conjunction on September 30th and reappearing in the dawn during the first weeks of October.
Category: Planet Events
Venus Appears in the Dawn
The bright planet Venus will appear in the dawn sky over the next couple weeks, climbing higher to become the morning star for the remainder of 2015. It is currently 15° from the Sun and shining at magnitude -4.2, bright enough to be seen against the dawn sky. It will reach maximum elongation on October 26th, 46° above the rising Sun.
Venus at Inferior Conjunction
Today Venus is at inferior conjunction, passing between the Earth and Sun. It will reappear in the dawn sky near the end of the month to become the morning star for the remainder of 2015 and well into 2016. The planet will reach maximum elongation on October 26th at 46° from the Sun.
Mercury Appears in the Evening Sky
The planet Mercury is starting an evening apparition. The planet should become visible this week just above the fading glow of the setting Sun as a magnitude -1 object. The planet is moving about 1° further from the Sun and higher in the sunset each day, reaching a maximum elongation of 27° on September 4th. This will be the best evening apparition for Mercury in 2015.
Venus Disappears into the Sunset
The 2015 evening apparition of Venus is drawing to a close. Already quite low in the sky at sunset the planet will disappear into the bright glow over the next couple weeks. Venus will pass through inferior conjunction on August 15th and reappear in the dawn during the first weeks of September.
Accompanying Venus into solar conjuntion is the bright planet Jupiter, continuing their dance in the sunset.
Mercury at Superior Conjunction
Today Mercury passes through superior conjunction, passing behind the Sun as seen from the Earth. The planet will appear in the sunset in ten days or so, reaching maximum elongation on September 4th.
Mercury at Maximum Elongation
Today Mercury will be at maximum western elongation, as high in the morning sky as it will appear for this current apparition. After today the planet will slide back into the dawn, passing through superior conjunction on July 23rd to reappear in the evening sky in mid-August.
Venus at Maximum Elongation
Today Venus will be at maximum eastern elongation, as high in the evening sky as it will appear for this current apparition. After today the planet will begin a slow slide back into the sunset, passing through inferior conjunction on August 15th and reappearing in the dawn during the first weeks of September.
Look for Venus to pass by the Beehive cluster around Jun 12th and have a close conjunction with Jupiter on a few evenings around Jun 30th.
Mercury Appears in the Dawn
The planet Mercury is starting a morning apparition. The planet should become visible this week just above the dawn as a magnitude -1 object. The planet is moving more than 1° further from the Sun and higher in the morning sky each day, reaching a maximum elongation of 22° on June 24th.
Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
Today the planet Mercury passes through inferior conjunction, passing between the Sun and the Earth. In a week or so the planet will again be visible in the dawn sky, climbing higher each day. Maximum elongation will occur June 24th.