March 31, 2026: Mercury’s visibility depends on twilight and the angle of the ecliptic. The April elongation is difficult to see, while August and November offer better viewing conditions.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 6:35 a.m. CDT; Sunset, 7:15 p.m. CDT. Times are calculated by the US Naval Observatory’s MICA computer program. Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times.
Venus as an Evening Star
Mercury in Morning Sky
Mercury shuttles around the sun, moving from the eastern morning sky to the western evening sky and back to the morning sky. Its visibility is affected by twilight’s length and the angle the plane of the solar system – known as the ecliptic – makes with the horizon. The Elusive Planet’s orbit is tilted 2.6° to the ecliptic. When north of the ecliptic, the view can improve. When south of the ecliptic, the view is more difficult.
Twilight’s length affects visibility. Near the winter solstice, mid-twilight occurs about 50 minutes before sunrise. Near the summer solstice, it occurs over 10 minutes later. Brighter twilight can veil the planet, even when the ecliptic makes a favorable angle with the horizon.
Spring
Mercury reaches greatest elongation on April 3, when it is 27.8° from the sun. Your fist at arm’s length spans about 10°. Mercury is only three fists from the sun, the reason it is visible only during twilight.
During this appearance, the ecliptic makes a 27° angle with the eastern horizon. Mercury is 1.5° below the plane of the solar system. At 30 minutes before sunrise – 18 minutes before mid-twilight – it is only 4° above the east-southeast horizon. Mercury is lost in bright twilight.
Summer Elongation
The next morning greatest elongation occurs on August 2, when Mercury is 19.5° from the sun. The ecliptic makes a 65° angle with the east-northeast horizon. Mercury is 1.8° south of the ecliptic.
At mid-twilight, 57 minutes before sunrise, Mercury is 5° above the horizon. As it rises higher, twilight brightens and overtakes the planet. At 30 minutes before sunrise, it is nearly 10° above the horizon, visible through a binocular.
November Appearance
The year’s final morning elongation occurs on November 20. The ecliptic again makes a 65° angle with the east-southeast horizon. Mid-twilight occurs at nearly the same interval before sunrise as the April 3 elongation.
At that time, Mercury is 10° above the horizon and rising into morning twilight. The higher altitude makes this the easiest time to see Mercury. Its autumn morning elongations are easiest to see.
The accompanying diagram shows the April, August, and November elongations at 30 minutes before sunrise to indicate the angles of the ecliptic, location of the planet compared to the ecliptic, and the planet’s altitudes.
The upcoming appearance is very challenging to see. The August elongation places Mercury higher in the sky during brighter twilight. It can be seen through a binocular. The best views of Mercury occur during the autumn months.
LATEST ARTICLES
- 2026, March 31: Mercury Visibility Explained: Why Some Elongations Are Hard to See
March 31, 2026: Mercury’s visibility depends on twilight and the angle of the ecliptic. The April elongation is difficult to see, while August and November offer better viewing conditions. - 2026, March 30: Venus and Jupiter Shine After Sunset While the Moon Nears Full with Leo
March 30, 2026: Venus shines low in the west after sunset while Jupiter stands high in the south-southwest. The moon nears full in front of Leo, with Regulus and Denebola marking the Lion’s outline. Mercury and Mars remain hidden in bright morning twilight. - 2026, March 29: Venus and Jupiter After Sunset – Conjunction Preview
March 29, 2026: Venus and Jupiter are visible after sunset, moving toward a June 9 conjunction. Follow Venus near Hamal and Jupiter near Castor and Pollux. - 2026, March 28-30: Evening Moon Passes Leo
March 28-30, 2026: The gibbous moon moves in front of Leo, passing near Regulus and Denebola in the east-southeast sky after sunset. - 2026, March 27: Gibbous Moon Near Jupiter Tonight – Beehive Cluster Washed Out
March 27, 2026: A 74% illuminated gibbous moon shines near Jupiter after sunset in Cancer. Learn where to look and why the Beehive Cluster is difficult to see tonight.