Mercury at greatest western elongation, 2 August 2026
Mercury is 19.5° from the Sun — the best time to find it low in the east before sunrise.
When
What it is
Mercury and Venus orbit inside the Earth’s orbit, so they never stray far from the Sun. At greatest elongation the angle is at its widest and the planet is easiest to see.
How to see it
Look east 30–60 minutes before sunrise with a clear, low horizon. Mercury is bright (magnitude 0.2) but low; binoculars help — but never point them near the Sun.
Check the clouds for that night
See also
Perseids meteor shower 2026
Peak night, up to 100 meteors an hour under a dark sky. The Moon is almost out of the way — a good year.
Total solar eclipse 12 August 2026
The path of totality crosses Greenland, western Iceland and northern Spain. Most of Europe, North Africa and the north-east of North America see a partial eclipse.
Venus at greatest eastern elongation, 15 August 2026
Venus is 45.9° from the Sun — the best time to find it low in the west after sunset.
Partial lunar eclipse 28 August 2026
Visible wherever the Moon is up: the Americas, Europe and Africa.
Mercury at greatest eastern elongation, 16 June 2026
Mercury is 24.5° from the Sun — the best time to find it low in the west after sunset.
Mercury at greatest eastern elongation, 12 October 2026
Mercury is 25.2° from the Sun — the best time to find it low in the west after sunset.