Don’t Miss Mercury: How to Spot the Planet in the Night Sky This Week!

Right now is a great time to spot Mercury, the planet known for being tricky to see without a telescope. From now until mid-March, Mercury will make an appearance in the evening sky, offering one of the best chances for those in northern locations to catch a glimpse.

During the days from March 5 to March 10, Mercury will set more than 90 minutes after sunset, making it visible in a darkening sky. This is the perfect time to look for it right after twilight.

People often call Mercury elusive. Famous astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus never spotted it in his lifetime. He compared Mercury’s habit of being close to the sun to a child clinging to its mother’s skirt. While Mercury may seem hard to find, all you need is a clear horizon and a bit of patience.

Using Venus as a guide can help when looking for Mercury. Throughout early March, Venus will shine brightly in the sky, making it easier to locate the rocky planet. Starting on March 1, you can also use the moon to find Mercury. It will be visible shortly after sunset, around 10 degrees above the horizon, which is about a fist’s width when you hold it at arm’s length.

On March 1, Mercury will shine brightly at a magnitude of -1.0, making it one of the brightest objects in the sky, just behind Venus and Jupiter. Look for it about 10 degrees below Venus and just to the right of a thin crescent moon.

After March 1, the moon will move away, but Mercury will continue to drift closer to Venus. It will reach its greatest elongation on March 8, appearing about 18 degrees from the sun, visible in the evening sky at a magnitude of -0.2.

On the evening of March 12, Mercury will be just 5.5 degrees from Venus. At that point, it will have dimmed to a magnitude of +0.7. By mid-March, Mercury will begin to fade quickly as it moves closer to the sun’s glaring light, likely becoming invisible by March 15.

Interestingly, Mercury is not only the closest planet to the sun but also the fastest, zipping around it in just 88 Earth days. It experiences extreme temperatures, with scorching heat on its sunny side and freezing cold on its night side. In ancient times, Mercury had two names: it was called Mercury in the evening and Apollo in the morning. This confusion lasted until Pythagoras established that they were, in fact, the same planet.

So, grab a blanket, head outside, and enjoy the show as Mercury lights up the evening sky in March!