Stargazers are in for a treat this March as the planet Mercury will be visible in the night sky. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, Mercury will be at its greatest distance from the sun on March 7, making it easy to spot just after sunset. With a magnitude of –0.4, Mercury will be bright enough to see without binoculars or a telescope.
Mercury will be visible for about an hour and a half after sunset, but by March 12 it will be at its closest point to Venus, causing its brightness to decrease to 0.7. By March 15, Mercury’s magnitude will be 1.6, making it nearly invisible for the rest of the month. While binoculars aimed at Venus might aid in spotting Mercury, it is expected to be gone by St. Patrick’s Day.
This rare opportunity to see Mercury in the night sky is not to be missed for astronomy enthusiasts. Despite its diminishing brightness as the month progresses, stargazers will have a brief window to catch a glimpse of this elusive planet before it disappears from view. So mark your calendars for March 7 and head outside at twilight to witness the first planet in the solar system twinkling in the darkness.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image of the presented article.
