The chart above shows the evening positions of Mercury and Mars from June 5, 2019, to June 30, 2019. The moon is part of the scene on June 5 and June 6.
About 45 minutes after sunset, Mercury and Mars are visible in the west-northwest beneath Pollux and Castor, the Gemini Twins. Early in the month, the stars are about one-third of the way up in the sky.
Mercury is beginning an evening appearance. Early in the month, it is brighter, but closer to the horizon.
Twilight lasts longer this time of year, so it’s not visible in the latter sky glow as the sky darkens further. So, the upcoming conjunction with Mars is better viewed with a binocular. Both planets’ movements are easier viewed across several nights.
On June 5, the waxing crescent moon, the waxing crescent moon that is 2.7 days past the New phase and only 9% illuminated is 6.3° to the upper left of Mars, which sets at the end of evening twilight. At this time the Red Planet is about 13° up in the west-northwest, a little over halfway between Castor and Pollux and the horizon.
Each evening until the conjunction, Mercury is closer to Mars.
On June 18, Mercury passes close to Mars, less than the moon’s apparent diameter. The chart above shows them 45 minutes after sunset when they appear in the west-northwest. Use a binocular to locate them. Can you see them without a binocular?
As the month progresses, the planets appear lower and in a brighter sky. Continue to use a binocular to track the planets.
By month’s end, a dimmer Mercury appears to the upper left of Mars.