Get ready for a celestial spectacle on November 12th! The elusive planets Mars and Mercury will put on a stunning display in the evening sky, but you'll need to act fast to catch this rare event.
On this particular evening, Mercury will be positioned just above the southwestern horizon at sunset, with Mars shining brightly about one degree to its upper right. To help visualize this, imagine holding your three middle fingers at arm's length; that's roughly five degrees in the night sky! Mercury will be that tiny speck just above the horizon.
But here's where it gets tricky: both planets will quickly disappear from view as the sun sets. Mercury, in particular, is known for its elusiveness, so you'll need to be quick and have a clear view of the horizon.
Mercury's path will take it to the right of Mars by the following evening, and it will continue its westward journey in the nights ahead. This proximity to the sun makes it crucial to exercise caution; never point telescopes or binoculars in their direction until the sun has fully set.
The past month has witnessed a fascinating celestial dance between these two planets. Mercury, the innermost planet, has been tracking a path beneath Mars, moving from right to left in our sky. This retrograde motion occurs when Mercury, being the faster planet, catches up and passes Earth in its orbit, creating the illusion of moving east to west. Meanwhile, Mars continues its 'prograde motion', moving west to east through the starry backdrop.
In the coming months, both planets will appear lower on the horizon at sunset, leading up to their respective solar conjunctions. This is when they will be at their closest to the sun in Earth's sky. Mark your calendars for November 20th for Mercury's conjunction and January 2026 for Mars.
If you're an astrophotography enthusiast, Space.com invites you to share your planetary captures with their readers. Simply send your photos, along with your name, location, and any comments, to spacephotos@space.com.
Stay tuned for more breaking space news, rocket launches, and skywatching events! Anthony Wood, our resident space enthusiast, will keep you updated on all things celestial.
