Hi:
For the next several weeks, Mercury will be visible soon after sunset. This evening (April 12) was my first chance this go-around and it was an easy find. That is, except for the fact that I nearly missed it in a palm tree across the street. At sunset it is about 12 degrees altitude and 279 degrees azimuth. I picked it up a few minutes later scanning the area with a 4 inch refractor. About 25 minutes after sunset I was able to spot it easily naked eye. Currently it small, less than 6 arc-seconds but it is at its brightest, mag -1.2
It should be visible into the first week of May when it will be dimmer at about magnitude 1 but larger at 9 arc-seconds and a nice crescent.
Jon
For the next several weeks, Mercury will be visible soon after sunset. This evening (April 12) was my first chance this go-around and it was an easy find. That is, except for the fact that I nearly missed it in a palm tree across the street. At sunset it is about 12 degrees altitude and 279 degrees azimuth. I picked it up a few minutes later scanning the area with a 4 inch refractor. About 25 minutes after sunset I was able to spot it easily naked eye. Currently it small, less than 6 arc-seconds but it is at its brightest, mag -1.2
It should be visible into the first week of May when it will be dimmer at about magnitude 1 but larger at 9 arc-seconds and a nice crescent.
Jon
