2024, January 16-19:  Venus, Mercury at Minimum Separation

Astronomy, Sky Watching

January 16-19, 2024: Brilliant Venus and Mercury are at minimum separation, the closest they appear for this apparition of both planets.

Venus, Mercury, Spica, and Moon, November 13, 2020
Photo Caption – 2020, November 13: Sparkling Venus – nearly 18° up in the east-southeast – is 8.1° to the upper right of the old moon and 5.5° to the upper left of Spica. The lunar crescent is 6.9° to the lower left of Spica and 5.1° above Mercury.

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by Jeffrey L. Hunt

Summaries of Current Sky Events
Summary for Venus as a Morning Star, 2023-24

Venus, Mercury in Southeast

Venus Mercury minimum separation - 2024, January 16: Brilliant Venus and Mercury are in the southeastern sky before sunrise.
Chart Caption – 2024, January 16: Brilliant Venus and Mercury are in the southeastern sky before sunrise.

Brilliant Venus and bright Mercury are at minimum separation in the southeastern sky before sunrise.  Speedy Mercury is a week after its greatest elongation, the maximum separation we see the planet from the sun.  As the planet moves farther along its orbital path, it is moving toward its solar conjunction.  Mercury does not appear to move very far eastward compared to the background stars.

Brilliant Venus steps eastward consistently during this period and appears to close a gap to Mercury. While millions of miles apart in space, the planetary pair appears close together in the morning sky.  As Mercury appears to pick up eastward speed, it matches Venus’ eastward motion, maintaining a gap of 11.1° beginning this morning and for the next three mornings.  Then Mercury speeds off opening a larger gap to Venus each morning.

Look for the Planets

Venus Mercury minimum separation - 2024, January 19: Brilliant Venus and Mercury at 11.1° apart in the southeastern sky before sunrise.
Chart Caption – 2024, January 19: Brilliant Venus and Mercury at 11.1° apart in the southeastern sky before sunrise.

Here’s what to look for:

Step outside and look toward the southeast at forty-five minutes before sunrise.  The brilliant Morning Star is less than 15° above the horizon.  The planet is lower in the sky each morning, so look around any obstructions in your neighborhood.

Venus is so startlingly bright that it is frequently mistaken as an airplane or something unworldly.  Mercury is brighter than all the other stars this morning, except for Venus.  (Venus is nearly 40 times brighter than Mercury.) While you are looking for Venus and Mercury, note Antares, to Venus upper right.  It represents the Scorpion’s heart.

Mercury is about 7° above the horizon and 11.1° to Venus’ lower left.  Even though the solar system’s innermost planet is bright, use a binocular to initially find it.

The separation is about the distance across your extended fist from thumb knuckle to pinky finger knuckle.  Align one knuckle with Venus.  Tilt the fist slightly to the lower left. Mercury is near the other knuckle.

Look for this minimum separation of the night’s brightest starlike body, Venus and the fastest-moving planet, Mercury.

Mars continues a slow emergence from bright morning twilight. Rising sixty minutes before sunrise, the planet is still hidden.  Mercury passes by in a close conjunction but challenging to see on the 22nd.

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