December 11-17, 2025: Mercury reaches its best morning visibility of the year, standing below the Scorpion’s claws and moving eastward toward Scorpius’ body. Each morning the planet brightens while appearing lower in the southeast. During December 15–17 the crescent moon, displaying earthshine, provides attractive pairings.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Mercury’s Best Morning Appearance of Year
Mercury is making its best morning appearance of the year in the southeastern sky before sunrise. After reaching greatest elongation on December 7th – its farthest point from the sun – the speedy planet slowly recedes into brighter morning twilight.
Find a clear horizon looking toward the southeast and take a binocular.
Mercury appears starlike and, during this apparition, stands below the Scorpion’s claws – Zubenelgenubi and Zubeneschamali – now placed in Libra. About 45 minutes before sunrise, use a binocular to initially find the planet nearly 10° above the southeast horizon through the colorful hues of mid-twilight and the thicker air near the horizon that dims and blurs celestial bodies. As Mercury recedes into brighter twilight, it brightens although it appears lower. Once identified, attempt to see it without the optical assist.
During this week, the innermost planet moves eastward, toward Scorpius, crossing in front of the constellation on the 14th. As the stars rise earlier each morning, Graffias (Beta Scorpii) makes its first morning appearance – its heliacal rising – when it becomes visible without binocular assistance.
Highlights
What to see each morning (one hour before sunrise)
- December 11:Mercury is 4.1° to Graffias’ upper right.
- December 12–13:The planet continues to close the gap each morning.
- December 14:Mercury passes 0.6° to Graffias’ upper left as it crosses in front of Scorpius.
The Moon Enters the Scene
- December 15:The lunar orb, 17% illuminated and showing earthshine, is about 25° above the southeast horizon and 30° to Mercury’s upper right. Mercury stands 1.2° to Graffias’ lower left.
- December 16:The moon, 11% illuminated, is over 15° up in the southeast and 20° to Mercury’s upper right. Look for earthshine again this morning The Mercury–Graffias gap opens slightly to 2.4°.
- December 17: The lunar orb, 6% illuminated, is 7° above the southeast horizon and 11° to Mercury’s upper right. Mercury is 3.8° to Graffias’ lower left.
Track Mercury as it moves from Libra to Scorpius as the moon joins the scene.
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