August 15-17, 2026: Watch the crescent moon pass brilliant Venus and Spica after sunset. See earthshine on the moon and follow Venus at greatest elongation as it closes in on Virgo’s brightest star.
Tag: greatest elongation
2026, August 15: Venus Reaches Greatest Elongation and Joins the Crescent Moon After Sunset
August 15, 2026: Venus reaches greatest elongation east and appears with the waxing crescent moon in the western evening sky. Watch the Evening Star close in on Spica before their September 1 conjunction.
2026, July 31: Mercury Nears Greatest Elongation: How to Find the Elusive Planet Before Sunrise
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.
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, February 19: Mercury at Greatest Elongation After Sunset With Saturn and the Crescent Moon
February 19, 2026: Mercury reaches its farthest apparent distance from the sun this evening, setting well after sunset as Saturn and a thin crescent Moon linger in evening twilight.
2026, February 17: New Moon, Lunar New Year, and Evening Planets
February 17, 2026: A New moon marks Lunar New Year and the start of Ramadan as Mercury nears greatest elongation. Find Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, and Uranus in the February evening sky.
2026, February 16: Mercury Nears Its Best Evening View, Jupiter Bright Near the Twins
February 16, 2026: Mercury climbs into evening twilight as Saturn fades and Jupiter shines near Castor and Pollux - A detailed sky guide for tonight.
2026, February 15: Mercury Near Greatest Elongation, Jupiter Bright After Sunset
February 15, 2026: Mercury nears greatest elongation and is best seen after sunset, while Jupiter shines bright in the eastern sky and Saturn fades into twilight. Learn what is visible in the evening sky.
2026, February 13: February Morning Crescent Moon and Evening Mercury Near Greatest Elongation
February 13, 2026: Before sunrise, a thin crescent moon appears low in the southeast near Sagittarius. After sunset, Mercury nears greatest elongation while Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus shape the evening sky.
2026, February 12: Waning Crescent Moon, Mercury Before Elongation, and Jupiter Bright After Sunset
February 12, 2026: Before sunrise, the waning crescent moon displays earthshine near Antares and Sagittarius. After sunset, Mercury climbs from twilight ahead of greatest elongation, Saturn fades, and Jupiter shines near Castor and Pollux.