Mercury farthest from the sunset on November 16

Mercury is our sun’s innermost planet. So it always lies near the sun in our sky. Mercury is now back in the west after sunset. It’ll reach its greatest elongation, its greatest apparent distance from the sun in our sky, on November 16, 2024.

Mercury after sunset in November 2024

Where to look: Look west, in the sunset direction – shortly after sunset – for Mercury.
Greatest elongation: Mercury is farthest from the sun on our sky’s dome at 8 UTC (2 a.m. CDT) on November 16, 2024. At that time, Mercury will be 23 degrees from the sun in our sky. See A comparison of elongations, below.
Brightness: Mercury emerged in the evening sky in late October. Since then, it’s been shining at -0.3 magnitude. At greatest elongation it’ll be farther from the sunset glare and still brighter than most stars! In the evenings after greatest elongation, the innermost planet will rapidly fade as it sweeps up from behind Earth, in orbit around the sun, causing its illuminated side, or day side, to turn away from us. It’ll disappear by the end of the month and will reach inferior conjunction – when it passes between Earth and the sun – on December 6 at 2 UTC.
Through a telescope: Mercury will appear about 46% illuminated at greatest elongation. It’ll measure 6.6 arcseconds across.
Constellation: Mercury will lie in front of the constellation Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer at this elongation. Doubtless, most of 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?

Venus is up there, too

Venus – the brightest planet – is also in the evening sky. Venus is much brighter than Mercury. Look for it near Mercury in the western twilight.

Finder charts for October 2024

For precise sun and Mercury rising times at your location:

Old Farmer’s Almanac (U.S. and Canada)
timeanddate.com (worldwide)
Stellarium (online planetarium program)

Mercury events in 2024

Note: Times are in UTC

Jan 12, 2024: Greatest elongation (morning)
Feb 28, 2024: Superior conjunction (passes behind sun from Earth)
Mar 24, 2024: Greatest elongation (evening)
Apr 11, 2024: Inferior conjunction (races between Earth and sun)
May 9, 2024: Greatest elongation (morning)
Jun 14, 2024: Superior conjunction (passes behind sun from Earth)
Jul 22, 2024: Greatest elongation (evening)
Aug 19, 2024: Inferior conjunction (races between Earth and sun)
Sep 5, 2024: Greatest elongation (morning)
Sep 30, 2024: Superior conjunction (passes behind sun from Earth)
Nov 16, 2024: Greatest elongation (evening)
Dec 5, 2024: Inferior conjunction (races between Earth and sun)
Dec 25, 2024: Greatest elongation (morning)

Heliocentric view of Mercury November 2024

A comparison of elongations

In November 2024, Mercury stretches out a 23 degrees from the sun in our sky. 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 2024, the Southern Hemisphere had the best evening elongation of Mercury in July. And the Northern Hemisphere had the best evening apparition in March.

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 2024

Bottom line: The sun’s innermost planet, Mercury, will lie 23 degrees from the sunset on November 16, 2024.

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