Mercury at greatest eastern elongation, 28 May 2027
Mercury is 22.9° from the Sun — the best time to find it low in the west after sunset.
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 west 30–60 minutes after sunset with a clear, low horizon. Mercury is bright (magnitude 0.4) but low; binoculars help — but never point them near the Sun.
Check the clouds for that night
See also
Eta Aquariids meteor shower 2027
Peak night, up to 50 meteors an hour under a dark sky. The Moon is almost out of the way — a good year.
Venus and Saturn in conjunction, 7 May 2027
Venus and Saturn are just 0.6° apart — they fit in one binocular view.
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 western elongation, 2 August 2026
Mercury is 19.5° from the Sun — the best time to find it low in the east before sunrise.
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.