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I have studied the stars for many years. One thing always bothered me about astronomy books: most say Mercury is impossible to see. Because of this, people call it the elusive planet. However, Mercury is not always hard to find; sometimes, it is quite easy to spot. You just need to know the right time and place.
A book called All About the Planets explains why this happens. The writer notes that Mercury is small and sits close to the sun. Usually, the bright sun hides the planet from our view. It never appears in the middle of our night sky. Instead, it shows up for short periods after sunset or before sunrise. The book says you need a very clear sky to see it. This description might make you think it is too hard to try, but the truth is much more hopeful. Mercury can be very easy to see if you know what to do.
You need to look when Mercury is as high as possible above the sun. This works best after sunset in late winter or early spring, and before sunrise in autumn or early winter. For observers in the Northern Hemisphere, a prime viewing window occurs in February. The planet will be near a thin crescent moon on February 18. This moon helps you find the smallest and closest planet to the sun.
In early February, Mercury begins its best evening apparition of the year. Initially only 12 degrees from the sun, it shines very brightly at -1.1 magnitude. That is almost as bright as Sirius, the brightest star. Mercury stays low in the west and sets about 55 minutes after the sun. But each evening for the next 13 nights, it gets higher and sets a little later each time.
If your sky is clear, you should see it easily. Do not let tall buildings or trees block your view of the west. It will look like a bright star with a yellowish color. By February 19, Mercury reaches its greatest elongation. This means it is at its farthest angle from the sun, which is 18 degrees.
For people at 40 degrees north, this separation is almost straight up. Mercury stands 17 degrees above the horizon at sunset. On that evening, it does not set until the sky gets dark. It shines at -0.4 magnitude, which is brighter than Arcturus, and sets more than one and a half hours after the sun. This is its best evening show of the year.
On the evening of February 18, Mercury stays close to a crescent moon. About 45 minutes after sunset, look low toward the west-southwest. You will see the moon. It is only one and a half days past being new; only 2 percent of it is lit. It looks like a smile, like the Cheshire Cat. Right above it, you will see a very bright star: Mercury.
If you live in places like Texas, Florida, or Georgia, you might see something special. You might see the moon pass right in front of Mercury. This happens around 7:37 p.m. Eastern time. Using binoculars will make this view even better, allowing you to see the planet against the fading twilight. You will be surprised by how easy it is to find the elusive planet.
The end of this event comes quickly. Mercury drops fast and fades away into the sunset, ending this special viewing time.
Mercury changes shape just like our moon does. At the start of February, it was 97 percent lit. This made it look almost full through telescopes, which is why it looked so bright at first. When it reaches its greatest elongation on February 19, it is 50 percent lit.
As days pass, less of it is lit by the sun, causing it to get dimmer quickly. On February 19, it is very bright. But by February 24, it has faded a lot, dropping to +0.6 magnitude. Soon, it disappears into the bright sky.
Just two days later, on February 26, the brightness drops to +1.3. This is just a little brighter than the star Regulus and only one-fifth as bright as it was on February 19. Through a telescope, it looks like a thin crescent, only 17 percent lit.
I think February 26 might be your last chance to see it. The planet gets lower and the sky gets brighter. Finally, it becomes invisible in late February. It passes between the sun and Earth on March 7, ending its evening trip for now.
This journey of Mercury is short but amazing. While it is often called elusive, this time is rare. You can see it with your naked eye; you just need to look at the right time and direction. Even though it fades after mid-February, the weeks before are clear. The moon on February 18 makes it easy for beginners. Once you find it, watch it move against the stars. Its changing shape and light show how our solar system works. This is a perfect time to practice looking at the sky. By understanding the timing, you can see what books say is impossible. The sky is ready to share its secrets. Do not let the name fool you; Mercury is waiting for you.