Mercury is farthest from the sunset on June 15

For all of us on Earth now, the sun’s innermost planet, Mercury, is in the west after sunset, below blazing Venus and Jupiter. A line between Venus and Jupiter more or less points to Mercury. This is the view from the Northern Hemisphere. Notice how the planets make a line extending above and to the left of the sunset point. Mercury is farthest from the sunset – at greatest elongation on June 15. But look soon! Mercury – sometimes calle the most elusive planet – will slip away again before the end of this month. Chart via EarthSky.

Mercury after sunset in June 2026

Where to look: Look west, in the sunset direction – shortly after sunset – for Mercury. The sky’s two brightest planets – Venus and Jupiter – will point to it. Mercury emerged in the evening twilight sometime in late May. Watch for the moon near Mercury on the evening of June 16.
Greatest elongation: Mercury is farthest from the sun on our sky’s dome at 20 UTC (3 p.m. CST) on June 15, 2026. At that time, Mercury will be 25 degrees from the sun in our sky. See a comparison of elongations, below.
Brightness: Mercury emerged in the evening sky late in May. Since then, it’s been shining at around 0.1 magnitude. At greatest elongation it’ll be farther from the sunset glare, shining around 0 magnitude and therefore brighter than most stars! In the evenings after greatest elongation, the innermost planet will drop rapidly closer to the horizon the rest of the month. And Jupiter will draw close enough that you can see both of them in a pair of binoculars. Mercury will be moving between Earth and the sun, with its illuminated side becoming less and less visible. It’ll disappear in early July and will reach inferior conjunction – when it passes between Earth and the sun – at 1 UTC on July 13.
Through a telescope: Mercury will appear about 38% illuminated at greatest elongation. It’ll measure 8.19 arcseconds across.
Constellation: Mercury will lie in front of the constellation Gemini the Twins at this elongation. Doubtless, the stars in this constellation will be lost in the twilight.
Note: As the innermost planet, Mercury is tied to the sun in our sky. As a result, it never ventures very far above the horizon after sunset. So as soon as the sun disappears below your horizon, your clock starts ticking. Will you see the glowing point of light that is Mercury before it drops below the horizon, following the setting sun?

Here are the planets from Earth’s Southern Hemisphere, in the west shortly after sunset. Same line of planets, but the perspective is different. See how a line between them points from the sunset point up and to the right? Chart via EarthSky.

Watch for the planets and young moon on June 16 and 17

The very young moon will appear near Mercury, Venus and Jupiter on the evening of June 16. Chart via EarthSky.

You’ll find the young moon near Mercury, Jupiter and Venus on the evening of June 17, too. Look west, shortly after the sun goes down. Also look for the glow of earthshine on the unlit portion of the moon. That’s sunlight bounced off Earth onto the moon’s surface. Chart via EarthSky.

What is greatest elongation?

The 3D view: At greatest elongation, we’re seeing Mercury to one side of the sun. The sky view: Greatest elongation means the distance between Mercury and the sunset is at its greatest. This chart is not to scale! When thinking about these worlds in space, you have to realize they are miniscule dots in contrast to the vast space around them. Chart via EarthSky.

For precise sun and Mercury setting times at your location:

timeanddate.com (worldwide)
Stellarium (online planetarium)

Mercury events in 2026

Jan 21, 2026: Superior conjunction (passes behind sun from Earth)
Feb 19, 2026: Greatest elongation (evening)
Mar 7, 2026: Inferior conjunction (races between Earth and sun)
Apr 3, 2026: Greatest elongation (morning)
May 14, 2026: Superior conjunction (passes behind sun from Earth)
Jun 15, 2026: Greatest elongation (evening)
Jul 13, 2026: Inferior conjunction (races between Earth and sun)
Aug 2, 2026: Greatest elongation (morning)
Aug 27, 2026: Superior conjunction (passes behind sun from Earth)
Oct 12, 2026: Greatest elongation (evening)
Nov 4, 2026: Inferior conjunction (races between Earth and sun)
Nov 21, 2026: Greatest elongation (morning)

Heliocentric view of Mercury June 2026

Heliocentric view of solar system, June 2026. Chart via Guy Ottewell’s 2026 Astronomical Calendar. Used with permission. Plus Guy Ottewell explains heliocentric charts here.

A comparison of elongations

In June 2026, Mercury stretches out 25 degrees from the sun in our sky. In fact, the farthest from the sun that Mercury can ever appear on the sky’s dome is about 28 degrees. And the least distance is around 18 degrees.

Mercury (and Venus) elongations are better or worse depending on the time of the year they occur. So in 2026, the Northern Hemisphere will had the best evening apparition in February. And the Southern Hemisphere will have its best evening elongation of Mercury in October.

In the autumn for either hemisphere, the ecliptic – or path of the sun, moon and planets – makes a narrow angle to the horizon in the evening. But it makes a steep slant, nearly perpendicular, in the morning. So, in autumn from either hemisphere, morning elongations of Mercury are best. That’s when Mercury appears higher above the horizon and farther from the glow of the sun. However, evening elongations in autumn are harder to see.

In the spring for either hemisphere, the situation reverses. The ecliptic and horizon meet at a sharper angle on spring evenings and a narrower angle on spring mornings. So, in springtime for either hemisphere, evening elongations of Mercury are best. Meanwhile, morning elongations in springtime are harder to see.

Mercury elongations compared. Here, gray areas represent evening apparitions (eastward elongation). Blue areas represent morning apparitions (westward elongation). The top figures are the maximum elongations, reached at the top dates shown beneath. Curves show the altitude of the planet above the horizon at sunrise or sunset, for latitude 40 degrees north (thick line) and 35 degrees south (thin line). Likewise, maxima are reached at the parenthesized dates below (40 degrees north in bold). Chart via Guy Ottewell’s 2026 Astronomical Calendar. Used with permission.

More Mercury evening elongation comparisons for 2026

Mercury’s greatest evening elongations in 2026 from the Northern Hemisphere as viewed through a powerful telescope. The planet images are at the 1st, 11th, and 21st of each month. Dots show the actual positions of the planet for every day. Chart via Guy Ottewell’s 2026 Astronomical Calendar. Used with permission.

Mercury’s greatest evening elongations in 2026 from the Southern Hemisphere as viewed through a powerful telescope. The planet images are at the 1st, 11th, and 21st of each month. Dots show the actual positions of the planet for every day. Chart via Guy Ottewell’s 2026 Astronomical Calendar. Used with permission.

Bottom line: The sun’s innermost planet, Mercury, will be 25 degrees from the sunset when it reaches its greatest elongation at 20 UTC on June 15. Also, this is a decent evening apparition of Mercury in 2026 for both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

Submit your photos to EarthSky here.

Read about greatest elongations, superior and inferior conjunctions: Definitions for stargazers

The post Mercury is farthest from the sunset on June 15 first appeared on EarthSky.

from EarthSky https://ift.tt/MaJpn8r

For all of us on Earth now, the sun’s innermost planet, Mercury, is in the west after sunset, below blazing Venus and Jupiter. A line between Venus and Jupiter more or less points to Mercury. This is the view from the Northern Hemisphere. Notice how the planets make a line extending above and to the left of the sunset point. Mercury is farthest from the sunset – at greatest elongation on June 15. But look soon! Mercury – sometimes calle the most elusive planet – will slip away again before the end of this month. Chart via EarthSky.

Mercury after sunset in June 2026

Where to look: Look west, in the sunset direction – shortly after sunset – for Mercury. The sky’s two brightest planets – Venus and Jupiter – will point to it. Mercury emerged in the evening twilight sometime in late May. Watch for the moon near Mercury on the evening of June 16.
Greatest elongation: Mercury is farthest from the sun on our sky’s dome at 20 UTC (3 p.m. CST) on June 15, 2026. At that time, Mercury will be 25 degrees from the sun in our sky. See a comparison of elongations, below.
Brightness: Mercury emerged in the evening sky late in May. Since then, it’s been shining at around 0.1 magnitude. At greatest elongation it’ll be farther from the sunset glare, shining around 0 magnitude and therefore brighter than most stars! In the evenings after greatest elongation, the innermost planet will drop rapidly closer to the horizon the rest of the month. And Jupiter will draw close enough that you can see both of them in a pair of binoculars. Mercury will be moving between Earth and the sun, with its illuminated side becoming less and less visible. It’ll disappear in early July and will reach inferior conjunction – when it passes between Earth and the sun – at 1 UTC on July 13.
Through a telescope: Mercury will appear about 38% illuminated at greatest elongation. It’ll measure 8.19 arcseconds across.
Constellation: Mercury will lie in front of the constellation Gemini the Twins at this elongation. Doubtless, the stars in this constellation will be lost in the twilight.
Note: As the innermost planet, Mercury is tied to the sun in our sky. As a result, it never ventures very far above the horizon after sunset. So as soon as the sun disappears below your horizon, your clock starts ticking. Will you see the glowing point of light that is Mercury before it drops below the horizon, following the setting sun?

Here are the planets from Earth’s Southern Hemisphere, in the west shortly after sunset. Same line of planets, but the perspective is different. See how a line between them points from the sunset point up and to the right? Chart via EarthSky.

Watch for the planets and young moon on June 16 and 17

The very young moon will appear near Mercury, Venus and Jupiter on the evening of June 16. Chart via EarthSky.

You’ll find the young moon near Mercury, Jupiter and Venus on the evening of June 17, too. Look west, shortly after the sun goes down. Also look for the glow of earthshine on the unlit portion of the moon. That’s sunlight bounced off Earth onto the moon’s surface. Chart via EarthSky.

What is greatest elongation?

The 3D view: At greatest elongation, we’re seeing Mercury to one side of the sun. The sky view: Greatest elongation means the distance between Mercury and the sunset is at its greatest. This chart is not to scale! When thinking about these worlds in space, you have to realize they are miniscule dots in contrast to the vast space around them. Chart via EarthSky.

For precise sun and Mercury setting times at your location:

timeanddate.com (worldwide)
Stellarium (online planetarium)

Mercury events in 2026

Jan 21, 2026: Superior conjunction (passes behind sun from Earth)
Feb 19, 2026: Greatest elongation (evening)
Mar 7, 2026: Inferior conjunction (races between Earth and sun)
Apr 3, 2026: Greatest elongation (morning)
May 14, 2026: Superior conjunction (passes behind sun from Earth)
Jun 15, 2026: Greatest elongation (evening)
Jul 13, 2026: Inferior conjunction (races between Earth and sun)
Aug 2, 2026: Greatest elongation (morning)
Aug 27, 2026: Superior conjunction (passes behind sun from Earth)
Oct 12, 2026: Greatest elongation (evening)
Nov 4, 2026: Inferior conjunction (races between Earth and sun)
Nov 21, 2026: Greatest elongation (morning)

Heliocentric view of Mercury June 2026

Heliocentric view of solar system, June 2026. Chart via Guy Ottewell’s 2026 Astronomical Calendar. Used with permission. Plus Guy Ottewell explains heliocentric charts here.

A comparison of elongations

In June 2026, Mercury stretches out 25 degrees from the sun in our sky. In fact, the farthest from the sun that Mercury can ever appear on the sky’s dome is about 28 degrees. And the least distance is around 18 degrees.

Mercury (and Venus) elongations are better or worse depending on the time of the year they occur. So in 2026, the Northern Hemisphere will had the best evening apparition in February. And the Southern Hemisphere will have its best evening elongation of Mercury in October.

In the autumn for either hemisphere, the ecliptic – or path of the sun, moon and planets – makes a narrow angle to the horizon in the evening. But it makes a steep slant, nearly perpendicular, in the morning. So, in autumn from either hemisphere, morning elongations of Mercury are best. That’s when Mercury appears higher above the horizon and farther from the glow of the sun. However, evening elongations in autumn are harder to see.

In the spring for either hemisphere, the situation reverses. The ecliptic and horizon meet at a sharper angle on spring evenings and a narrower angle on spring mornings. So, in springtime for either hemisphere, evening elongations of Mercury are best. Meanwhile, morning elongations in springtime are harder to see.

Mercury elongations compared. Here, gray areas represent evening apparitions (eastward elongation). Blue areas represent morning apparitions (westward elongation). The top figures are the maximum elongations, reached at the top dates shown beneath. Curves show the altitude of the planet above the horizon at sunrise or sunset, for latitude 40 degrees north (thick line) and 35 degrees south (thin line). Likewise, maxima are reached at the parenthesized dates below (40 degrees north in bold). Chart via Guy Ottewell’s 2026 Astronomical Calendar. Used with permission.

More Mercury evening elongation comparisons for 2026

Mercury’s greatest evening elongations in 2026 from the Northern Hemisphere as viewed through a powerful telescope. The planet images are at the 1st, 11th, and 21st of each month. Dots show the actual positions of the planet for every day. Chart via Guy Ottewell’s 2026 Astronomical Calendar. Used with permission.

Mercury’s greatest evening elongations in 2026 from the Southern Hemisphere as viewed through a powerful telescope. The planet images are at the 1st, 11th, and 21st of each month. Dots show the actual positions of the planet for every day. Chart via Guy Ottewell’s 2026 Astronomical Calendar. Used with permission.

Bottom line: The sun’s innermost planet, Mercury, will be 25 degrees from the sunset when it reaches its greatest elongation at 20 UTC on June 15. Also, this is a decent evening apparition of Mercury in 2026 for both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

Submit your photos to EarthSky here.

Read about greatest elongations, superior and inferior conjunctions: Definitions for stargazers

The post Mercury is farthest from the sunset on June 15 first appeared on EarthSky.

from EarthSky https://ift.tt/MaJpn8r