Mercury is farthest from the sunset on October 12

Mercury after sunset in October 2026

Where to look: Look west, in the sunset direction – shortly after sunset – for Mercury. Mercury emerged in the evening twilight sometime in September. This is the best evening apparition for the Southern Hemisphere this year. For viewers in the Northern Hemisphere, Mercury most likely will be too low to spot due to the low angle of the ecliptic this time of year.
Greatest elongation: Mercury is farthest from the sun on our sky’s dome at 10 UTC (5 a.m. CDT) on October 12, 2026. And it’s 11 p.m. New Zealand Daylight Time on October 12. At that time, Mercury will be 25 degrees from the sun in our sky. See a comparison of elongations, below.
Brightness: Mercury emerged in the evening sky in September. Since then, it’s been shining with a magnitude of around -0.2. At greatest elongation it’ll be farther from the sunset glare, shining around -0.1 magnitude and therefore brighter than most stars! In the evenings soon after greatest elongation, the innermost planet will drop rapidly closer to the horizon the rest of the month. Mercury will be moving between Earth and the sun, with its illuminated side becoming less and less visible. It’ll disappear late in October and will reach inferior conjunction – when it passes between Earth and the sun – at 14:00 UTC on November 4.
Through a telescope: Mercury will appear about 60% illuminated at greatest elongation. It’ll measure 6.75 arcseconds across.
Constellation: Mercury will lie in front of the constellation Libra the Scales at this elongation. Doubtless, the stars in this constellation will be lost in the twilight.
Note: As the innermost planet, Mercury is tied to the sun in our sky. As a result, it never ventures very far above the horizon after sunset. So as soon as the sun disappears below your horizon, your clock starts ticking. Will you see the glowing point of light that is Mercury before it drops below the horizon, following the setting sun?

For precise sun and Mercury setting times at your location:

timeanddate.com (worldwide)
Stellarium (online planetarium)

Mercury events in 2026

Jan 21, 2026: Superior conjunction (passes behind sun from Earth)
Feb 19, 2026: Greatest elongation (evening)
Mar 7, 2026: Inferior conjunction (races between Earth and sun)
Apr 3, 2026: Greatest elongation (morning)
May 14, 2026: Superior conjunction (passes behind sun from Earth)
Jun 15, 2026: Greatest elongation (evening)
Jul 13, 2026: Inferior conjunction (races between Earth and sun)
Aug 2, 2026: Greatest elongation (morning)
Aug 27, 2026: Superior conjunction (passes behind sun from Earth)
Oct 12, 2026: Greatest elongation (evening)
Nov 4, 2026: Inferior conjunction (races between Earth and sun)
Nov 21, 2026: Greatest elongation (morning)

Heliocentric view of Mercury October 2026

A comparison of elongations

In October 2026, Mercury stretches out 25 degrees from the sun in our sky. In fact, the farthest from the sun that Mercury can ever appear on the sky’s dome is about 28 degrees. And the least distance is around 18 degrees.

Mercury (and Venus) elongations are better or worse depending on the time of the year they occur. So in 2026, the Northern Hemisphere had the best evening apparition in February. And the Southern Hemisphere will have its best evening elongation of Mercury in October.

In the autumn for either hemisphere, the ecliptic – or path of the sun, moon and planets – makes a narrow angle to the horizon in the evening. But it makes a steep slant, nearly perpendicular, in the morning. So, in autumn from either hemisphere, morning elongations of Mercury are best. That’s when Mercury appears higher above the horizon and farther from the glow of the sun. However, evening elongations in autumn are harder to see.

In the spring for either hemisphere, the situation reverses. The ecliptic and horizon meet at a sharper angle on spring evenings and a narrower angle on spring mornings. So, in springtime for either hemisphere, evening elongations of Mercury are best. Meanwhile, morning elongations in springtime are harder to see.

More Mercury evening elongation comparisons for 2026

Bottom line: The sun’s innermost planet, Mercury, will be 25 degrees from the sunset when it reaches its greatest elongation at 10 UTC on October 12. Also, this is a best evening apparition of Mercury in 2026 for the Southern Hemispheres.

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Read about greatest elongations, superior and inferior conjunctions: Definitions for stargazers