July 31, 2026: Mercury reaches greatest elongation in two mornings. Learn how to locate the Elusive Planet low in the east-northeast sky before sunrise using a binocular and terrestrial reference points.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 5:44 a.m. CDT; Sunset, 8:10 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 Nears Greatest Elongation
Mercury is visible low in the east-northeast during brighter twilight as it reaches greatest elongation in two mornings. At this season, the planet’s elongation, its angular distance from the sun, is only 19°, placing the Elusive Planet low in the sky.
As summer’s midpoint approaches, Mercury’s morning appearance is challenging to see, but it is possible with a clear horizon and careful searching.
Before looking for Mercury, find Mars, over 25° above the eastern horizon an hour before daybreak. This morning, Mars is 5.1° from Elnath, Taurus’ northern horn. Both fit into the same binocular field of view.
Mercury is visible at this hour, but it is low in the east-northeast, well below and to the lower left of Mars.
Try This Observing Technique
Use a binocular to attempt to locate Mercury. One observing technique developed by this sky watcher for finding Mercury under these circumstances is to look through tree branches, which can provide additional contrast with the brightening sky and a reference point for the planet’s location. If the first attempt is not successful, take one or two strides to the left or right to make sure Mercury is not hidden behind a branch.
This observing method was used to locate Mercury for the image at the top of this article. After finding the planet, the camera was positioned and a short exposure was used to record Mercury.
Greatest elongation provides one of the best opportunities of this apparition to locate the Elusive Planet before sunrise. Look for Mercury through a binocular and use terrestrial features as reference points for its visibility.
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